Question

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a transportation problem?

• A. Supply and demand constraints
• B. Minimization of transportation cost
• C. Assignment of tasks to agents
• D. Distribution of goods from sources to destinations

Hint:

While the Assignment Problem is mathematically a special case of the Transportation Problem, conceptualizing "tasks to agents" belongs specifically to the Assignment framework (where the decision variables $x_{ij}$ are binary).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
This question from Operations Research asks us to identify which option is NOT a characteristic feature of a Transportation Problem.

Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
A standard Transportation Problem involves distributing a single commodity from $m$ sources (with known supply) to $n$ destinations (with known demand) to minimize total shipping costs.
The mathematical formulation is:
\[ \text{Minimize } Z = \sum_{i=1}^m \sum_{j=1}^n c_{ij} x_{ij} \]
Subject to supply and demand constraints.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

• Option A: Supply and demand constraints are fundamental because the total capacity at sources and requirements at destinations must be satisfied.

• Option B: Minimization of transportation cost is the main objective of any transportation problem.

• Option D: The primary physical function is the distribution of goods from sources (origins) to destinations.

• Option C: "Assignment of tasks to agents" is the defining characteristic of an Assignment Problem, which is a special case of the transportation problem where the supply at each source and demand at each destination are equal to $1$.

• Therefore, Option C is not a characteristic of a general transportation problem.

Step 4: Final Answer:
The parameter that is NOT a characteristic of a transportation problem is the assignment of tasks to agents.