Transportation Problems Topic Review summary

Key learning points

• Balance supply and demand with a dummy if needed.
• Find an initial basic feasible solution (NW corner, least cost, or Vogel).
• Number of basic cells should be $m+n-1$ for $m$ sources, $n$ destinations.
• Shadow costs / improvement indices decide entering cells.
• Cycle adjustments preserve supply/demand while lowering cost.

Worked example 1 — Balance

Supply 50, demand 40. What next?

Working

Then solve the balanced problem.

Worked example 2 — Basic count

3 supplies, 4 demands — basic cells?

Working

Degeneracy needs an ε-cell if fewer.

Worked example 3 — Practice point 1

Apply this idea from the Topic Review: Balance supply and demand with a dummy if needed.

Working

Attempt without notes, then check the answers PDF.

Worked example 4 — Practice point 2

Apply this idea from the Topic Review: Find an initial basic feasible solution (NW corner, least cost, or Vogel).

Working

Attempt without notes, then check the answers PDF.

Scaffolded Learning Sheet and answers (PDFs)

This page is a short, searchable overview for revision and search engines. Use the Scaffolded Learning Sheet first, then the Answers PDF for a full written solution. The printable PDFs remain the main classroom resource.