The question involves creating a network representation for multiple-source, multiple-destination distribution, for which nodes represent suppliers and counties, arcs represent the paths with capacities and costs, depicting the logistics of natural gas distribution by Tri-County Utilities, Inc.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking for a network representation for a supply and distribution problem faced by Tri-County Utilities, Inc. This is related to operations research within the business field, specifically dealing with the optimization of supply chain logistics. The company must distribute natural gas, supplied by Southern Gas and Northwest Gas, to three different counties with varying demand and distribution costs. The aim is to represent this scenario using a network graph that visualizes the routes between the suppliers (Southern Gas and Northwest Gas) and the counties (Hamilton, Butler, and Clermont) along with the distribution costs for each route.
To create a network representation, start with two nodes representing the suppliers and add three additional nodes representing the counties. Then, six directed arcs are drawn from the suppliers to the counties. The capacities of the arcs emanating from Southern Gas should be labeled with 500 units, and those from Northwest Gas should be labeled with 400 units. Likewise, the demand at each county node should be assigned (Hamilton with 400 units, Butler with 200 units, and Clermont with 300 units). Lastly, the costs should be labeled on each of the arcs as provided: from Southern Gas to Hamilton, Butler, and Clermont, the costs are 10, 20, and 15 (in thousands of dollars) respectively, and from Northwest Gas, the costs are 12, 15, and 18 (in thousands of dollars).