Working efficiently doesn’t always make you efficient. Choosing a shortest path may not always be a good option. There may be various problems on that. Keep reading this article to know how you solve shortest route problems!
What are the Shortest Path Problems?
If you are searching in graph theory the problem is finding a path between two nodes so that the sum total between the edges loads minimal. Relate this simple trick with your life. If you have to find a path that costs minimal to move from one place to another you’ll face the shortest path problems. Shortest path actually refers to a least load which can be measured easily. Don’t confused shortest path as bodily shortest distance. If you are still confused, don’t take it critically. You can relate this concept with your daily life. For example, if you have an important meeting in your office and you need to reach there on time. You’ll choose a path wisely so that you can reach there within least time. Now you can define it as a shortest path problem and the time will be the load. The Dijkstra is a shortest path algorithm for a single source graph.
Shortest versus Fastest, which one is Best? Try these when you may need different types!
In any Business efficiency is the key to success. You can save small things such as small amount of cost or time which will bring a significant change for your business. For example much business related to field service started using route optimization software which helps the driver in finding right directions while moving from one place to another. If you’re new in a place and don’t know which route is best, you can always take the fastest or shortest route. Take help from someone regarding the route and think wisely. It will be best if you choose the route considering the factors such as weather, road conditions that is if the road is damaged or not, tolls, left turns and tunnels etc. If you’re doing delivery service businesses take your turn accordingly, save fuel and most importantly remember driver safety comes first. If you are doing in-home service business to earn customer trust keep the service consistent and supply the customer service within the promised time. Actually the best route meaning is different according to different people’s perspective. Choosing shortest route may not be best always. If you choose a shortest distance to arrive somewhere but the road has edge cracks, holes or may be shaky, then you’ll need more time to drive arrive through these damaged road. So take decisions sensibly. This is how you can solve your shortest path problem.
Ways to formulate shortest path problems efficiently?
You can take help from various algorithms to solve this problem. Some algorithms are Dijkstra’s algorithm, Bellman-Ford algorithm, A* search algorithm, Floyd-Warshall algorithm, Johnson’s algorithm, Viterbi algorithm etc. You can solve the problem of single source shortest path with non-negative edge weight by using Dijkstra’s formula. While the edge loads come negative solve the single source problem with Bellman-Ford algorithm. Solve your all paired shortest path problem with Floyd-Warshall’s formula. If you want more speed to solve all pair shortest path, then Floyd-Warshall use Johnson’s algorithm. If the path is shortest stochastic problem including additional probalidstic load on each edge try out Viterbi’s algorithm. Solve your single pair shortest path with heuristics to speed up by using A* search algorithm’s method. Relate algorithms with real life while you’re getting confused. Using a laptop, calculator, Google map is also a kind of using algorithm. This will help you to find shortest and efficient path for your life!
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