In graph theory, the shortest path problem is the problem of finding a path between two vertices (or nodes) in a graph such that the sum of the weights of its constituent edges is minimized.
This is analogous to the problem of finding the shortest path between two intersections on a road map: the graph's vertices correspond to intersections and the edges correspond to road segments, each weighted by the length of its road segment.
Read more about Shortest Path Problem: Definition, Algorithms, Roadnetworks, Applications, Related Problems, Linear Programming Formulation
Famous quotes containing the words shortest, path and/or problem:
“The shortest way out of Manchester is notoriously a bottle of Gordons gin; out of any businessmans life there is the mirage of Paris; out of Paris, or mediocrity of talent and imagination, there are all the drugs, from subtle, all-conquering opium to cheating, cozening cocaine.”
—William Bolitho (18901930)
“A few hours mountain climbing turns a rogue and a saint into two roughly equal creatures. Weariness is the shortest path to equality and fraternityand liberty is finally added by sleep.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (18441900)
“A curious thing about the ontological problem is its simplicity. It can be put in three Anglo-Saxon monosyllables: What is there? It can be answered, moveover, in a wordEverything.”
—Willard Van Orman Quine (b. 1908)