Machine-translated by Google. Questions are authored in English.
Top

Transportation Problems Questions and Answers

Answer: A

The stepping stone method is used to optimise the initial feasible solution of a transportation problem. It checks the unused cells for an opportunity cost, by tracing a closed path of stones, and moves allocation to those cells if cost can be reduced. The initial solution itself is found by methods such as the north-west corner rule or the Vogel approximation method, so the fourth option is the wrong one, and unbalanced problems are handled by adding a dummy row or column.

Please log in or register to report this question.

2.

The following table gives the unit transportation costs, the supply at each origin and the demand of each destination for a transportation problem.

Origin / DestinationD1D2D3D4Supply
O1348760
O2737680
O33934100
Demand40705080

Let \(x_{ij}\) denote the number of units to be transported from origin \(i\) to destination \(j\). If the u-v method is applied to improve the basic feasible solution given by \(x_{12} = 60,\ x_{22} = 10,\ x_{23} = 50,\ x_{24} = 20,\ x_{31} = 40\) and \(x_{34} = 60\), then the variables entering and leaving the basis, respectively, are

Exam Year(s)

GATE Mathematics - 2012,

Answer: A

The entering variable is \(x_{11}\) and the leaving variable is \(x_{24}\): \(x_{11}\) and \(x_{24}\).

Find \(u_{i}, v_{j}\) from \(u_{i} + v_{j} = c_{ij}\) on the basic cells, with \(u_{1} = 0\): \(v_{2} = 4\), \(u_{2} = -1\), \(v_{3} = 8\), \(v_{4} = 7\), \(u_{3} = -3\), \(v_{1} = 6\).

Reduced costs \(c_{ij} - u_{i} - v_{j}\) on the non-basic cells:

\[ \begin{aligned} x_{11} &: 3 - 0 - 6 = -3 \\ x_{33} &: 3 + 3 - 8 = -2 \\ x_{13}, x_{14} &: 0 \\ x_{21} &: 2,\quad x_{32}: 8 \end{aligned} \]

The most negative is \(x_{11}\), so it enters. Its loop is \(x_{11}(+), x_{12}(-), x_{22}(+), x_{24}(-), x_{34}(+), x_{31}(-)\). The minus cells hold 60, 20 and 40, so \(\theta = 20\) and \(x_{24}\) leaves.

The options entering \(x_{13}\) or \(x_{14}\) are wrong because those cells have zero reduced cost and would not lower the cost, and \(x_{33}\), at -2, is less negative than \(x_{11}\), at -3.

Please log in or register to report this question.

3.

For a transportation problem, let \(c_{ij}\) denote the unit cost of the cell \((i, j)\). Assume that \(c_{11} = 10\), \(c_{12} = 12\), \(c_{21} = 11\) and \(c_{22} = 13\). Let \(\alpha_i\) and \(\beta_j\), \(i, j = 1, 2, 3\), represent the simplex multipliers associated with any basis corresponding to the unit cost \(c_{ij}\). Assume that \(\alpha_1 = x\), \(\alpha_2 = x + 1\), \(\beta_1 = y\) and \(\beta_2 = y + 2\). The relative cost coefficient \(d_{ij}\) is the difference between the current solution and the new improved solution.

If \(x = 4\), \(c_{13} = 19\) and \(\beta_3 = y + 5\), then which one of the following is TRUE?

Exam Year(s)

GATE Mathematics - 2026,

Answer: B

The answer is \(y = 6\) and \(d_{13} = 4\).

In the u-v (MODI) method the simplex multipliers satisfy \(\alpha_i + \beta_j = c_{ij}\) on the basic cells, and the relative cost of a non-basic cell is \(d_{ij} = c_{ij} - \alpha_i - \beta_j\). With \(x = 4\), cell (1,1) gives

\[ \begin{aligned} \alpha_1 + \beta_1 &= 4 + y = 10 \\ y &= 6 \end{aligned} \]

and the other three given cells agree: \(4 + 8 = 12\), \(5 + 6 = 11\), \(5 + 8 = 13\). Then \(\beta_3 = y + 5 = 11\), and

\[ d_{13} = 19 - 4 - 11 = 4. \]

\(d_{13} = 7\) comes from using \(\beta_2 = 8\) in place of \(\beta_3\), and \(y = 5\) fails the condition on cell (1,1). A positive \(d_{13}\) means bringing cell (1,3) into the basis would not lower the cost.

Please log in or register to report this question.

Loading…
Tags: Transportation Problems Questions and Answers || Transportation Problems MCQ Questions and Answers || Transportation Problems GK Questions and Answers || Transportation Problems GK MCQ Questions || Transportation Problems Multiple Choice Questions and Answers || Transportation Problems GK || GK on Transportation Problems || Operations Research Questions and Answers || Operations Research MCQ Questions and Answers || Operations Research GK Questions and Answers || GK on Operations Research