Question

Trace the operation of graph-search A applied to the problem of getting to Bucharest from Zerind using the straight-line distance heuristic. That is, show the frontier at each step, nodes that the algorithm will expand, and the f, g and h value for each node.

Answer 1

The question is about executing the A* search algorithm to find a path from Zerind to Bucharest using a straight-line distance heuristic. It requires an explanation of the algorithm's progression, including the frontier, expanded nodes, and their f, g, and h values.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question pertains to the application of graph-search A* (A-star), which is an informed search algorithm used for pathfinding and graph traversal. The specific application here is to find a route from Zerind to Bucharest, using the straight-line distance heuristic. The problem requires a step-by-step explanation of the algorithm's operation, including the details of nodes on the frontier, nodes to be expanded, and the f, g, and h values for each node.

The f value is the estimated total cost of the cheapest solution through the node in question. It is calculated as f = g + h, where g value is the cost from the start node to the current node, and h value is the estimated cost from the current node to the goal, provided by the heuristic. During the A* algorithm's execution, nodes with the lowest f value are selected for expansion, and the process continues until the goal is reached or no nodes remain to be expanded.