Network Maths Problem: Shortest Path Algorithm and Street Resurfacing in A-Town

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In summary, this conversation is about finding the shortest path between two points, finding a route for a postman, and finding which streets need to be resurfaced in order to make the journey from one point to another as smooth as possible.
  • #1
CheeseyChips
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Have to do this question fairly soon in an exam. This is pretty much the exact same question that will be on it.

What sort of maths is this and how the hell do I do it??!? I don't have any notes on it.
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The following network (Figure 1 below) represents the road system in the town A-Town, with streets being edges and street junctions being vertices. The number on each street represents the length of the street in metres. Traffic can travel in either direction along any street: there are no one-way streets in the town.

networkgraphMIS.jpg


1. Use an appropriate algorithm to find, for each vertex, the shortest path (and its length) from vertex 1 to that vertex. Include workings with your solution.
• Draw the resulting shortest path spanning tree rooted at vertex 1.
• Which are the vertices in the shortest path between vertices 1 and 13?
Discuss other examples of where a model/problem like this could arise.

2. The Post Office is located at the junction marked 1 in Figure 1. Postman Pat is starting on his round. He wants to start from the Post Office, deliver the post along each street, and return to the Post Office at the end of the round. What tour should Pat take, and what is its length? Use an appropriate graph algorithm to find your answer. [Hint: your work in Question 1 will be useful here.]

3. The A-Town town council wish to resurface certain streets in the town, so that it will be possible to get from any junction to any other junction using only the newly-resurfaced streets. Using an appropriate graph algorithm, find which streets should be resurfaced so as to minimise the total length of street resurfaced.
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  • #2
use graph theory.
 
  • #3
Ok, thanks.

Anywhere online to get notes about graph theory...don't have any whatsoever!
 
  • #5
Dijkstra's, a Euler Tour and a Minimal spanning tree (a.k.a) Kruskal's or Prim's algorithm.

After a bit of research are these the 3 things I need for the 3 questions?
 
  • #6
try them. If they work, you chose right. Have confidence in your ability to solve this stuff.
 

Related to Network Maths Problem: Shortest Path Algorithm and Street Resurfacing in A-Town

What is a network maths problem?

A network maths problem is a mathematical problem that involves analyzing and solving complex networks or systems of interconnected nodes or vertices. These problems can include topics such as graph theory, network flow, and optimization.

What are some common applications of network maths?

Network maths has a wide range of applications, including computer science, telecommunications, transportation systems, social networks, and supply chain management. It is also used in fields such as biology, physics, and engineering to model and understand complex systems.

What are some strategies for solving network maths problems?

Some strategies for solving network maths problems include using graph theory algorithms, linear programming techniques, and computer simulations. It is also important to break down the problem into smaller, more manageable sub-problems and to understand the relationships between different components in the network.

How is network maths related to real-world problems?

Network maths is highly applicable to real-world problems as it can be used to model and analyze complex systems that exist in the real world. It helps us understand how networks function and how to optimize them for better performance. It also allows us to identify and solve problems in various fields such as transportation, communication, and social interactions.

What skills are needed to excel in network maths?

To excel in network maths, one needs to have a strong foundation in mathematical concepts such as graph theory, linear algebra, and optimization. It is also important to have strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to use mathematical software and programming languages to analyze and solve complex networks.

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