Christofides algorithm (by hand) (suboptimal solution - is it my fault?)
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I would like to calculate an eularian path using Christofides algorithm on this graph: (Focus on the first number in each box representing the distance)
$alpha$ denotes the start and end vertex of the Eulerian path
Step 1 - Calculate minimum spanning tree $T$
Step 2 - Calculate the set of verices $O$ with odd degree in $T$
Step 3 - Form the subgraph of $G$ using only the vertices of $O$
This is starting to get confusing
Step 4 - Construct a minimum-weight perfect matching $M$ in this subgraph
Step 5 - Unite matching and spanning tree $T$ and $M$ to form an Eulerian multigraph
I am NOT satisfied
Did I do something wrong or did I simply just hit an sub-optimal solution.
It is not hard to see that the Eulerian path easily could be improved by either connection $G rightarrow H$ or $A rightarrow B$ as illustrated underneath:
algorithms graphs graph-theory matching spanning-trees
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
I would like to calculate an eularian path using Christofides algorithm on this graph: (Focus on the first number in each box representing the distance)
$alpha$ denotes the start and end vertex of the Eulerian path
Step 1 - Calculate minimum spanning tree $T$
Step 2 - Calculate the set of verices $O$ with odd degree in $T$
Step 3 - Form the subgraph of $G$ using only the vertices of $O$
This is starting to get confusing
Step 4 - Construct a minimum-weight perfect matching $M$ in this subgraph
Step 5 - Unite matching and spanning tree $T$ and $M$ to form an Eulerian multigraph
I am NOT satisfied
Did I do something wrong or did I simply just hit an sub-optimal solution.
It is not hard to see that the Eulerian path easily could be improved by either connection $G rightarrow H$ or $A rightarrow B$ as illustrated underneath:
algorithms graphs graph-theory matching spanning-trees
Christofides’ algorithm is an approximation algorithm. It is not guaranteed to produce an optimal solution.
– Yuval Filmus
Nov 27 at 21:07
@YuvalFilmus That's why I am questioning whether I just hit a sub-optimal solution, however, it could also be a result of an error. I am new to the field of graph theory. All the terms are new to me, and so I could likely have made an error. Can you approve I did it right?
– Sebastian Nielsen
Nov 27 at 21:46
I’m not going to check your solution. I can help you with any conceptual difficulties.
– Yuval Filmus
Nov 27 at 21:49
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
I would like to calculate an eularian path using Christofides algorithm on this graph: (Focus on the first number in each box representing the distance)
$alpha$ denotes the start and end vertex of the Eulerian path
Step 1 - Calculate minimum spanning tree $T$
Step 2 - Calculate the set of verices $O$ with odd degree in $T$
Step 3 - Form the subgraph of $G$ using only the vertices of $O$
This is starting to get confusing
Step 4 - Construct a minimum-weight perfect matching $M$ in this subgraph
Step 5 - Unite matching and spanning tree $T$ and $M$ to form an Eulerian multigraph
I am NOT satisfied
Did I do something wrong or did I simply just hit an sub-optimal solution.
It is not hard to see that the Eulerian path easily could be improved by either connection $G rightarrow H$ or $A rightarrow B$ as illustrated underneath:
algorithms graphs graph-theory matching spanning-trees
I would like to calculate an eularian path using Christofides algorithm on this graph: (Focus on the first number in each box representing the distance)
$alpha$ denotes the start and end vertex of the Eulerian path
Step 1 - Calculate minimum spanning tree $T$
Step 2 - Calculate the set of verices $O$ with odd degree in $T$
Step 3 - Form the subgraph of $G$ using only the vertices of $O$
This is starting to get confusing
Step 4 - Construct a minimum-weight perfect matching $M$ in this subgraph
Step 5 - Unite matching and spanning tree $T$ and $M$ to form an Eulerian multigraph
I am NOT satisfied
Did I do something wrong or did I simply just hit an sub-optimal solution.
It is not hard to see that the Eulerian path easily could be improved by either connection $G rightarrow H$ or $A rightarrow B$ as illustrated underneath:
algorithms graphs graph-theory matching spanning-trees
algorithms graphs graph-theory matching spanning-trees
edited Nov 27 at 21:01
asked Nov 27 at 20:43
Sebastian Nielsen
1185
1185
Christofides’ algorithm is an approximation algorithm. It is not guaranteed to produce an optimal solution.
– Yuval Filmus
Nov 27 at 21:07
@YuvalFilmus That's why I am questioning whether I just hit a sub-optimal solution, however, it could also be a result of an error. I am new to the field of graph theory. All the terms are new to me, and so I could likely have made an error. Can you approve I did it right?
– Sebastian Nielsen
Nov 27 at 21:46
I’m not going to check your solution. I can help you with any conceptual difficulties.
– Yuval Filmus
Nov 27 at 21:49
add a comment |
Christofides’ algorithm is an approximation algorithm. It is not guaranteed to produce an optimal solution.
– Yuval Filmus
Nov 27 at 21:07
@YuvalFilmus That's why I am questioning whether I just hit a sub-optimal solution, however, it could also be a result of an error. I am new to the field of graph theory. All the terms are new to me, and so I could likely have made an error. Can you approve I did it right?
– Sebastian Nielsen
Nov 27 at 21:46
I’m not going to check your solution. I can help you with any conceptual difficulties.
– Yuval Filmus
Nov 27 at 21:49
Christofides’ algorithm is an approximation algorithm. It is not guaranteed to produce an optimal solution.
– Yuval Filmus
Nov 27 at 21:07
Christofides’ algorithm is an approximation algorithm. It is not guaranteed to produce an optimal solution.
– Yuval Filmus
Nov 27 at 21:07
@YuvalFilmus That's why I am questioning whether I just hit a sub-optimal solution, however, it could also be a result of an error. I am new to the field of graph theory. All the terms are new to me, and so I could likely have made an error. Can you approve I did it right?
– Sebastian Nielsen
Nov 27 at 21:46
@YuvalFilmus That's why I am questioning whether I just hit a sub-optimal solution, however, it could also be a result of an error. I am new to the field of graph theory. All the terms are new to me, and so I could likely have made an error. Can you approve I did it right?
– Sebastian Nielsen
Nov 27 at 21:46
I’m not going to check your solution. I can help you with any conceptual difficulties.
– Yuval Filmus
Nov 27 at 21:49
I’m not going to check your solution. I can help you with any conceptual difficulties.
– Yuval Filmus
Nov 27 at 21:49
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
As mentioned by Yuval, Christofides’ algorithm is an approximation algorithm to the travelling salesman problem. It is not guaranteed to produce an optimal solution. So it is not unexpected that you could end up with a sub-optimal solution of
On the other hand, you did make a mistake while computing the minimal spanning tree. In your step 1 that calculates the minimum spanning tree, edge H$alpha$ should be replaced by edge HG.
Yes, thank you a lot! This is the error I had trouble finding!
– Sebastian Nielsen
Nov 28 at 8:40
question: I was supposed to end up with an Euler path, however, that is not the case, since not every edge of g is visited exactly once, there is a lot of edges that is not visited at all! Can I still call it an Euler path, or why didn't I end up with an Euler path?
– Sebastian Nielsen
2 days ago
1
Checking ... just a minute or two ...
– Apass.Jack
2 days ago
1
The Christofides algorithm is an algorithm for finding approximate solutions to the travelling salesman problem (TSP). It uses Euler path of a temporary graph to find a hamiltonian circuit of the original graph that approximates the optimal solution to TSP. So you are not supposed to end up with a Euler path. You should end up with a hamiltonian circuit, a cycle that visits every vertex of the original graph exactly once.
– Apass.Jack
2 days ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
As mentioned by Yuval, Christofides’ algorithm is an approximation algorithm to the travelling salesman problem. It is not guaranteed to produce an optimal solution. So it is not unexpected that you could end up with a sub-optimal solution of
On the other hand, you did make a mistake while computing the minimal spanning tree. In your step 1 that calculates the minimum spanning tree, edge H$alpha$ should be replaced by edge HG.
Yes, thank you a lot! This is the error I had trouble finding!
– Sebastian Nielsen
Nov 28 at 8:40
question: I was supposed to end up with an Euler path, however, that is not the case, since not every edge of g is visited exactly once, there is a lot of edges that is not visited at all! Can I still call it an Euler path, or why didn't I end up with an Euler path?
– Sebastian Nielsen
2 days ago
1
Checking ... just a minute or two ...
– Apass.Jack
2 days ago
1
The Christofides algorithm is an algorithm for finding approximate solutions to the travelling salesman problem (TSP). It uses Euler path of a temporary graph to find a hamiltonian circuit of the original graph that approximates the optimal solution to TSP. So you are not supposed to end up with a Euler path. You should end up with a hamiltonian circuit, a cycle that visits every vertex of the original graph exactly once.
– Apass.Jack
2 days ago
add a comment |
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
As mentioned by Yuval, Christofides’ algorithm is an approximation algorithm to the travelling salesman problem. It is not guaranteed to produce an optimal solution. So it is not unexpected that you could end up with a sub-optimal solution of
On the other hand, you did make a mistake while computing the minimal spanning tree. In your step 1 that calculates the minimum spanning tree, edge H$alpha$ should be replaced by edge HG.
Yes, thank you a lot! This is the error I had trouble finding!
– Sebastian Nielsen
Nov 28 at 8:40
question: I was supposed to end up with an Euler path, however, that is not the case, since not every edge of g is visited exactly once, there is a lot of edges that is not visited at all! Can I still call it an Euler path, or why didn't I end up with an Euler path?
– Sebastian Nielsen
2 days ago
1
Checking ... just a minute or two ...
– Apass.Jack
2 days ago
1
The Christofides algorithm is an algorithm for finding approximate solutions to the travelling salesman problem (TSP). It uses Euler path of a temporary graph to find a hamiltonian circuit of the original graph that approximates the optimal solution to TSP. So you are not supposed to end up with a Euler path. You should end up with a hamiltonian circuit, a cycle that visits every vertex of the original graph exactly once.
– Apass.Jack
2 days ago
add a comment |
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
As mentioned by Yuval, Christofides’ algorithm is an approximation algorithm to the travelling salesman problem. It is not guaranteed to produce an optimal solution. So it is not unexpected that you could end up with a sub-optimal solution of
On the other hand, you did make a mistake while computing the minimal spanning tree. In your step 1 that calculates the minimum spanning tree, edge H$alpha$ should be replaced by edge HG.
As mentioned by Yuval, Christofides’ algorithm is an approximation algorithm to the travelling salesman problem. It is not guaranteed to produce an optimal solution. So it is not unexpected that you could end up with a sub-optimal solution of
On the other hand, you did make a mistake while computing the minimal spanning tree. In your step 1 that calculates the minimum spanning tree, edge H$alpha$ should be replaced by edge HG.
edited Nov 27 at 23:59
answered Nov 27 at 22:25
Apass.Jack
4,9711429
4,9711429
Yes, thank you a lot! This is the error I had trouble finding!
– Sebastian Nielsen
Nov 28 at 8:40
question: I was supposed to end up with an Euler path, however, that is not the case, since not every edge of g is visited exactly once, there is a lot of edges that is not visited at all! Can I still call it an Euler path, or why didn't I end up with an Euler path?
– Sebastian Nielsen
2 days ago
1
Checking ... just a minute or two ...
– Apass.Jack
2 days ago
1
The Christofides algorithm is an algorithm for finding approximate solutions to the travelling salesman problem (TSP). It uses Euler path of a temporary graph to find a hamiltonian circuit of the original graph that approximates the optimal solution to TSP. So you are not supposed to end up with a Euler path. You should end up with a hamiltonian circuit, a cycle that visits every vertex of the original graph exactly once.
– Apass.Jack
2 days ago
add a comment |
Yes, thank you a lot! This is the error I had trouble finding!
– Sebastian Nielsen
Nov 28 at 8:40
question: I was supposed to end up with an Euler path, however, that is not the case, since not every edge of g is visited exactly once, there is a lot of edges that is not visited at all! Can I still call it an Euler path, or why didn't I end up with an Euler path?
– Sebastian Nielsen
2 days ago
1
Checking ... just a minute or two ...
– Apass.Jack
2 days ago
1
The Christofides algorithm is an algorithm for finding approximate solutions to the travelling salesman problem (TSP). It uses Euler path of a temporary graph to find a hamiltonian circuit of the original graph that approximates the optimal solution to TSP. So you are not supposed to end up with a Euler path. You should end up with a hamiltonian circuit, a cycle that visits every vertex of the original graph exactly once.
– Apass.Jack
2 days ago
Yes, thank you a lot! This is the error I had trouble finding!
– Sebastian Nielsen
Nov 28 at 8:40
Yes, thank you a lot! This is the error I had trouble finding!
– Sebastian Nielsen
Nov 28 at 8:40
question: I was supposed to end up with an Euler path, however, that is not the case, since not every edge of g is visited exactly once, there is a lot of edges that is not visited at all! Can I still call it an Euler path, or why didn't I end up with an Euler path?
– Sebastian Nielsen
2 days ago
question: I was supposed to end up with an Euler path, however, that is not the case, since not every edge of g is visited exactly once, there is a lot of edges that is not visited at all! Can I still call it an Euler path, or why didn't I end up with an Euler path?
– Sebastian Nielsen
2 days ago
1
1
Checking ... just a minute or two ...
– Apass.Jack
2 days ago
Checking ... just a minute or two ...
– Apass.Jack
2 days ago
1
1
The Christofides algorithm is an algorithm for finding approximate solutions to the travelling salesman problem (TSP). It uses Euler path of a temporary graph to find a hamiltonian circuit of the original graph that approximates the optimal solution to TSP. So you are not supposed to end up with a Euler path. You should end up with a hamiltonian circuit, a cycle that visits every vertex of the original graph exactly once.
– Apass.Jack
2 days ago
The Christofides algorithm is an algorithm for finding approximate solutions to the travelling salesman problem (TSP). It uses Euler path of a temporary graph to find a hamiltonian circuit of the original graph that approximates the optimal solution to TSP. So you are not supposed to end up with a Euler path. You should end up with a hamiltonian circuit, a cycle that visits every vertex of the original graph exactly once.
– Apass.Jack
2 days ago
add a comment |
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Christofides’ algorithm is an approximation algorithm. It is not guaranteed to produce an optimal solution.
– Yuval Filmus
Nov 27 at 21:07
@YuvalFilmus That's why I am questioning whether I just hit a sub-optimal solution, however, it could also be a result of an error. I am new to the field of graph theory. All the terms are new to me, and so I could likely have made an error. Can you approve I did it right?
– Sebastian Nielsen
Nov 27 at 21:46
I’m not going to check your solution. I can help you with any conceptual difficulties.
– Yuval Filmus
Nov 27 at 21:49