Difference between revisions of "Shortest Path"

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(Example)
(Example)
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[[File:Shortest path eg start.gif|600px]]
 
[[File:Shortest path eg start.gif|600px]]
  
The stages to identify the shortest path:
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The stages to identify the shortest path from '''St. Austell''' to '''Launceston''':
  
 
[[File:Shortest path example.gif|800px]]
 
[[File:Shortest path example.gif|800px]]

Revision as of 12:28, 23 May 2017

The shortest path is usually found by Dijkstra's algorithm. The algorithm functions as follows:

Step 1 Give the permanent label 0 to the starting vertex.

Step 2 Give temporary labels to each vertex that is connected directly to the starting vertex.

Step 3 Find the vertex with the smallest temporary label, number it and make it permanent.

Step 4 Give temporary labels to each vertex that is connected directly to the previous vertex. Then find the vertex with the smallest temporary label, number it and make it permanent.

Step 5 Repeat Step 4 until you have given a permanent label to the finishing vertex.

Step 6 Use the permanent labels to trace back through the network to find the shortest path.

Step 7 The shortest path is found by tracing back in such a way that an edge is only included if its distance equals the change in label values.


Example

This is the starting graph and values:

Shortest path eg start.gif

The stages to identify the shortest path from St. Austell to Launceston:

Shortest path example.gif

Further Example

Dijkstra.png