Edexcel D1 2021 October — Question 5 10 marks

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleD1 (Decision Mathematics 1)
Year2021
SessionOctober
Marks10
PaperDownload PDF ↗
Mark schemeDownload PDF ↗
TopicRoute Inspection
TypeOptimal starting/finishing vertices
DifficultyStandard +0.3 This is a standard Chinese Postman Problem application with straightforward identification of odd vertices and pairing. Part (a) requires routine algorithm execution (finding odd vertices, pairing them optimally), part (b) is trivial counting, and part (c) involves recognizing that finishing at an odd vertex reduces the route length by removing one repeated edge. While it requires understanding of the algorithm, it's a textbook application with no novel insight needed, making it slightly easier than average.
Spec7.04e Route inspection: Chinese postman, pairing odd nodes

5. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{d409aaae-811d-4eca-b118-efc927885f97-08_588_1428_230_322} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 3}
\end{figure} [The total weight of the network is 166] Figure 3 models a network of cycle lanes that must be inspected. The number on each arc represents the length, in km, of the corresponding cycle lane. Lance needs to cycle along each lane at least once and wishes to minimise the length of his inspection route. He must start and finish at A.
  1. Use an appropriate algorithm to find the length of the route. State the cycle lanes that Lance will need to traverse twice. You should make your method and working clear.
    (6)
  2. State the number of times that vertex C appears in Lance's route.
    (1) It is now decided that the inspection route may finish at any vertex. Lance will still start at A and must cycle along each lane at least once.
  3. Determine the finishing point so that the length of the route is minimised. You must give reasons for your answer and state the length of this new minimum route.
    (3)

5.

\begin{figure}[h]
\begin{center}
  \includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{d409aaae-811d-4eca-b118-efc927885f97-08_588_1428_230_322}
\captionsetup{labelformat=empty}
\caption{Figure 3}
\end{center}
\end{figure}

[The total weight of the network is 166]

Figure 3 models a network of cycle lanes that must be inspected. The number on each arc represents the length, in km, of the corresponding cycle lane. Lance needs to cycle along each lane at least once and wishes to minimise the length of his inspection route.

He must start and finish at A.
\begin{enumerate}[label=(\alph*)]
\item Use an appropriate algorithm to find the length of the route. State the cycle lanes that Lance will need to traverse twice. You should make your method and working clear.\\
(6)
\item State the number of times that vertex C appears in Lance's route.\\
(1)

It is now decided that the inspection route may finish at any vertex. Lance will still start at A and must cycle along each lane at least once.
\item Determine the finishing point so that the length of the route is minimised. You must give reasons for your answer and state the length of this new minimum route.\\
(3)
\end{enumerate}

\hfill \mbox{\textit{Edexcel D1 2021 Q5 [10]}}