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The document discusses the Ford-Fulkerson and Edmonds-Karp algorithms for solving the maximum flow problem in network theory, which aims to find the maximum flow from a source to a sink in a flow network. It outlines the historical development, working principles, advantages, and disadvantages of these algorithms, highlighting their applications in various fields such as computer networks and logistics. Despite the emergence of faster algorithms, Ford-Fulkerson and Edmonds-Karp remain foundational due to their conceptual simplicity and educational value.

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5 views11 pages

Presntation

The document discusses the Ford-Fulkerson and Edmonds-Karp algorithms for solving the maximum flow problem in network theory, which aims to find the maximum flow from a source to a sink in a flow network. It outlines the historical development, working principles, advantages, and disadvantages of these algorithms, highlighting their applications in various fields such as computer networks and logistics. Despite the emergence of faster algorithms, Ford-Fulkerson and Edmonds-Karp remain foundational due to their conceptual simplicity and educational value.

Uploaded by

cabdullahibile281
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 11

Edmonds-Karp and Ford-Fulkerson's Algorithms for

Maximum Flow

presntation
01 introduction

Agenda 02
Historical background and
development

03 Timeline and evolution

Working principals of the


04
Algorithms

applications odd maximum


05
flow Algorithms

06 Advantages and disadvantages

07 conclusion

08 References
Introduction to the Maximum Flow Problem
The maximum flow problem is a foundational topic in combinatorial
optimization and network theory.
It focuses on determining the maximum feasible flow from a source
node sss to a sink node ttt in a
flow network, which is a directed graph where each edge has a
capacity and each flow must respect
capacity constraints and flow conservation. This problem has
applications in computer networks,
transportation, logistics, and many other fields.
Historical Background and Development
2.1 Ford-Fulkerson Algorithm
The Ford-Fulkerson method was first introduced in 1956 by L. R. Ford
Jr. and D. R. Fulkerson in their
seminal paper "Maximal Flow Through a Network" [1]. The algorithm
is based on the concept of
augmenting paths. It starts with zero flow and repeatedly augments
the flow along paths from source
to sink until no more augmenting paths exist in the residual graph.
This algorithm assumes capacities
are integers and its complexity is proportional to the maximum flow in
the network.
Timeline and Evolution
2.2 Edmonds-Karp Algorithm
In 1972, Jack Edmonds and Richard Karp proposed an implementation of the
Ford-Fulkerson method
using Breadth-First Search (BFS) to find the shortest augmenting path in
terms of the number of edges.
This modification ensures a polynomial time complexity, specifically
O(VE2)O(VE^2)O(VE2),
making it more practical for large-scale applications [2].
• Publication: 1972
• Authors: Jack Edmonds, Richard M. Karp
• Key Idea: Use BFS for shortest-path augmentation to guarantee polynomial
runtime
Timeline and Evolution
3. Timeline and Evolution
• 1956: Ford-Fulkerson algorithm is published, laying the groundwork for
maximum flow
analysis [1].
• 1960s: Widespread interest in network flow theory due to its applications in
operations research
and logistics.
• 1972: Edmonds-Karp algorithm improves the Ford-Fulkerson approach
using BFS, enabling
polynomial time guarantees [2].
Working Principles of the Algorithms
The Ford-Fulkerson algorithm works as follows:
1. Initialize flow to zero.
2. While there exists an augmenting path in the residual graph:
o Find such a path (using DFS or BFS).
o Determine the minimum residual capacity along this path.
o Augment the flow along this path.
3. Update the residual graph and repeat.
If capacities are rational numbers, the algorithm may not terminate. If
capacities are integers, it
terminates in a number of steps bounded by the total flow value
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
Ford-Fulkerson
• Conceptual Simplicity: Easy to understand and implement.
• Extensibility: Serves as a basis for more advanced methods.
• Adaptability: Works for integer capacities without modification.
Disadvantages
Ford-Fulkerson
• May Not Terminate: If irrational capacities are used, the algorithm can
enter an infinite loop
[1].
• Implementation Dependent: Efficiency depends heavily on the augmenting
path strategy.
Applications of Maximum Flow Algorithms

These algorithms have real-world applications including:


• Network Routing: Optimal data transfer across computer networks.
• Project Selection: Assigning tasks to workers in workforce planning.
• Bipartite Matching: Used in job assignment and scheduling.
• Image Segmentation: Applied in vision systems using min-cut/max-flow
approaches.
Conclusion

The Ford-Fulkerson and Edmonds-Karp algorithms remain essential tools in


understanding and solving the maximum flow problem. While Ford-Fulkerson
introduced a revolutionary method for augmenting flow, Edmonds-Karp
made it
efficient and polynomially bounded. Despite the existence of faster
algorithms, these
two algorithms are widely taught and applied due to their clarity and
foundational
significance.
Thank you

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