Final answer:
To find the optimal distribution plan for a transportation problem, mathematical methods such as the Northwest Corner Rule or the Least Cost Method are used initially, followed by optimization with methods like the Stepping Stone Method. The goal is to minimize transportation costs while meeting supply and demand constraints.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question at hand involves determining the optimal distribution plan for a transportation problem, which falls under the subject of mathematics, more specifically in operations research or linear programming. The transportation problem is a type of network optimization problem that seeks to minimize transportation cost while fulfilling supply and demand constraints.To solve such a problem, one would typically use a method such as the Northwest Corner Rule, the Least Cost Method, or the Vogel's Approximation Method to find an initial feasible solution. Then, the solution could be optimized using the Stepping Stone Method or the Modified Distribution Method (MODI).The optimal distribution plan would be the one where the total transportation cost is minimized without exceeding the supply at each source and meeting the exact demand at each destination. It's important to conduct a cost analysis and iterate through potential solutions while following the mathematical rules and constraints of the problem to find the most cost-effective shipping routes.