Which balance of flow rule should be applied at each node in a network flow problem when Total Supply Total Demand?
A) Inflow − Outflow ≤ Supply or Demand
B) Inflow − Outflow ≥ Supply or Demand
C) Inflow − Outflow = Supply or Demand
D) Inflow − Supply ≥ Outflow or Demand

Question

Which balance of flow rule should be applied at each node in a network flow problem when Total Supply > Total Demand?
A) Inflow − Outflow ≤ Supply or Demand
B) Inflow − Outflow ≥ Supply or Demand
C) Inflow − Outflow = Supply or Demand
D) Inflow − Supply ≥ Outflow or Demand

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When Total Supply > Total Demand, it means there is excess supply, so we want to make sure that all supply is utilized without violating demand constraints. This can be achieved by applying the balance of flow rule that ensures that the total outflow from each supply node is greater than or equal to the supply available at that node. Therefore, the balance of flow rule that should be applied at each node in this case is:

Inflow - Outflow ≥ Supply or Demand.

This ensures that all supply is utilized without violating demand constraints.

Which Balance of Flow Rule Should Be Applied at Each