QCAA General Mathematics Networks and decision mathematics 2
6 sample questions with marking guides and sample answers
A flying doctor coordinator allocates a plane from each of three airbases, A, B and C, to fly to one of three sites, P, Q and R, to provide medical care. Distances (km) are shown in the table.
| P ( S E) | Q | R ( S E) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A ( S E) | 600 | ||
| B | 445 | 485 | 340 |
| C | 980 | 1170 | 770 |
Determine the optimal allocation for each plane and the minimum total distance flown.
Reveal Answer
Calculate (distance from A to P):
Angular distance
km
Calculate (distance from A to R):
Angular distance
km
Row reduction:
Column reduction:
Number of lines needed to cover all zeros = number of tasks (), so allocate planes.
For minimum distance, the plane allocation is airbase A to site Q, airbase B to site P and airbase C to site R.
Minimum total distance flown
km
| Descriptor | Marks |
|---|---|
correctly calculates distance x in kilometres | 1 |
correctly calculates distance y in kilometres | 1 |
reduces each row | 1 |
reduces each column | 1 |
identifies optimal allocation for each plane | 1 |
determines minimum total distance flown | 1 |
The table summarises the distances in kilometres (km) between three flower stores and three delivery locations: A, B and C.
Use the Hungarian algorithm to determine the minimum total distance needed to deliver flowers to all locations if each store delivers flowers to only one location.
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Store 1 | 19 | 17 | 24 |
| Store 2 | 15 | 14 | 22 |
| Store 3 | 23 | 16 | 40 |
Reveal Answer
Row reduction
Store 1: 19 17 24 (-17) -> 2 0 7
Store 2: 15 14 22 (-14) -> 1 0 8
Store 3: 23 16 40 (-16) -> 7 0 24
Column reduction (-1 0 -7)
Therefore for minimum distance, Store 1 must deliver to C, Store 2 must deliver to A and Store 3 must deliver to B.
Minimum total distance = 24 + 15 + 16 = 55 km
| Descriptor | Marks |
|---|---|
correctly reduces each row | 1 |
correctly reduces each column | 1 |
identifies which store delivers to which location | 1 |
determines minimum total distance | 1 |
This matrix was obtained after applying the Hungarian algorithm to determine the optimal allocation of three people, Elandra (E), Farid (F) and Grace (G), to three tasks: legal (L), monitoring (M) and verification (V).
The optimal allocation is
E to V, F to M and G to L.
E to V, F to L and G to M.
E to M, F to L and G to V.
E to M, F to V and G to L.
Reveal Answer
E to V, F to M and G to L.
This allocation is invalid because it assigns tasks based on non-zero entries in the matrix (e.g., E to V is 7), whereas the optimal solution must use only zero entries.
E to V, F to L and G to M.
Although F and G are assigned to zeros, this option assigns E to V, which has a value of 7 in the reduced matrix, indicating it is not part of the optimal solution.
E to M, F to L and G to V.
Row F has only one zero at column L, forcing F to L. This leaves E with only one available zero at M, which in turn forces G to V, resulting in an allocation using only zeros.
E to M, F to V and G to L.
This allocation is suboptimal because it uses non-zero entries for F to V (value 8) and G to L (value 1).
A company has three tasks to allocate to three contractors. Each of the contractors has a quote recorded for each task, shown in the table. The quotes are in thousands of dollars ($'000s).
| Contractor | Task 1 | Task 2 | Task 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| B | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| C | 4 | 4 | 1 |
Use a matrix method to determine the minimum cost if each contractor is allocated one task.
Reveal Answer
Matrix form
row reduction:
only need 1 line to cover all the 0s,
column reduction:
need 3 lines to cover all the 0s, bipartite graph:
contractor task cost
A 2 3
B 1 4
C 3 1
Total 8
Minimum cost is $8000.
| Descriptor | Marks |
|---|---|
Correctly reduces each row | 1 |
Correctly reduces each column | 1 |
Allocates each task to one contractor | 1 |
Determines minimum cost | 1 |
Shows logical organisation, communicating key steps | 1 |
A bipartite graph is typically used to display which one of the following?
the allocation of tasks on a construction site
the path used to visit five different construction sites
the total distance travelled between two construction sites
the critical path of activities to be completed in a construction project
the minimum length of cable required to connect six construction sites
Reveal Answer
the allocation of tasks on a construction site
Bipartite graphs are ideal for modeling assignment problems, such as allocating a set of workers to a set of tasks, where edges connect the two distinct groups.
the path used to visit five different construction sites
Finding a path to visit multiple sites is a routing problem (like the Travelling Salesperson Problem), which is typically modeled using a complete or general graph.
the total distance travelled between two construction sites
Determining the distance between two sites is a shortest path problem, which is best modeled using a weighted graph rather than a bipartite graph.
the critical path of activities to be completed in a construction project
Critical path analysis for project activities is modeled using a directed acyclic graph (DAG) or an activity network, as it requires showing dependencies and sequence.
the minimum length of cable required to connect six construction sites
Finding the minimum cable to connect multiple sites is a minimum spanning tree problem, which is modeled using a weighted graph.
A triathlon relay has three sections: swim (S), cycle (C) and run (R). The matrix shows the average number of minutes for three athletes, Jane (J), Knox (K) and Levi (L), to complete each section.
| S | C | R | |
|---|---|---|---|
| J | 40 | 56 | 66 |
| K | 36 | 60 | 72 |
| L | 25 | 48 | 78 |
Use the Hungarian algorithm to predict the minimum total relay time if assigning each athlete to completing one section.
Reveal Answer
column reduction
row reduction
Number of lines needed to cover all zeroes < number of tasks
, so continue algorithm steps.
Smallest uncovered number is 5. Subtract 5 from all uncovered numbers and add 5 to number covered twice.
Number of lines needed to cover all zeroes = number of tasks
, so assign tasks.
To minimise the total relay time, assign Jane to run, Knox to swim and Levi to cycle.
Predicted minimum total relay time
| Descriptor | Marks |
|---|---|
correctly reduces each column | 1 |
reduces each row | 1 |
continues algorithm steps until number of lines needed to cover all zeroes equals number of tasks | 1 |
assigns each athlete to complete one section | 1 |
predicts minimum total relay time including units | 1 |