2.I.9C2 . \mathrm{I} . 9 \mathrm{C} \quad

Optimization | Part IB, 2006

Consider the maximal flow problem on a finite set NN, with source AA, sink BB and capacity constraints cijc_{i j} for i,jNi, j \in N. Explain what is meant by a cut and by the capacity of a cut.

Show that the maximal flow value cannot exceed the minimal cut capacity.

Take N={0,1,2,3,4}2N=\{0,1,2,3,4\}^{2} and suppose that, for i=(i1,i2)i=\left(i_{1}, i_{2}\right) and j=(j1,j2)j=\left(j_{1}, j_{2}\right),

cij=max{i1i2,j1j2} if i1j1+i2j2=1,c_{i j}=\max \left\{\left|i_{1}-i_{2}\right|,\left|j_{1}-j_{2}\right|\right\} \quad \text { if } \quad\left|i_{1}-j_{1}\right|+\left|i_{2}-j_{2}\right|=1,

and cij=0c_{i j}=0 otherwise. Thus the node set is a square grid of 25 points, with positive flow capacity only between nearest neighbours, and where the capacity of an edge in the grid equals the larger of the distances of its two endpoints from the diagonal. Find a maximal flow from (0,3)(0,3) to (3,0)(3,0). Justify your answer.

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