250+ TOP MCQs on Maximum Flow Problem and Answers

Data Structures & Algorithms Multiple Choice Questions on “Maximum Flow Problem”.

1. What does Maximum flow problem involve?
a) finding a flow between source and sink that is maximum
b) finding a flow between source and sink that is minimum
c) finding the shortest path between source and sink
d) computing a minimum spanning tree
Answer: a
Clarification: The maximum flow problem involves finding a feasible flow between a source and a sink in a network that is maximum and not minimum.

2. A network can have only one source and one sink.
a) False
b) True

Answer: b
Clarification: A network can have only one source and one sink inorder to find the feasible flow in a weighted connected graph.

3. What is the source?
a) Vertex with no incoming edges
b) Vertex with no leaving edges
c) Centre vertex
d) Vertex with the least weight

Answer: a
Clarification: Vertex with no incoming edges is called as a source. Vertex with no leaving edges is called as a sink.

4. Which algorithm is used to solve a maximum flow problem?
a) Prim’s algorithm
b) Kruskal’s algorithm
c) Dijkstra’s algorithm
d) Ford-Fulkerson algorithm

Answer: d
Clarification: Ford-fulkerson algorithm is used to compute the maximum feasible flow between a source and a sink in a network.

5. Does Ford- Fulkerson algorithm use the idea of?
a) Naïve greedy algorithm approach
b) Residual graphs
c) Minimum cut
d) Minimum spanning tree

Answer: b
Clarification: Ford-Fulkerson algorithm uses the idea of residual graphs which is an extension of naïve greedy approach allowing undo operations.

6. The first step in the naïve greedy algorithm is?
a) analysing the zero flow
b) calculating the maximum flow using trial and error
c) adding flows with higher values
d) reversing flow if required

Answer: a
Clarification: The first step in the naïve greedy algorithm is to start with the zero flow followed by adding edges with higher values.

7. Under what condition can a vertex combine and distribute flow in any manner?
a) It may violate edge capacities
b) It should maintain flow conservation
c) The vertex should be a source vertex
d) The vertex should be a sink vertex
View Answer

Answer: b
Clarification: A vertex can combine and distribute flow in any manner but it should not violate edge capacities and it should maintain flow conservation.

8. Find the maximum flow from the following graph.

a) 22
b) 17
c) 15
d) 20
Answer: c
Clarification: Initially, zero flow is computed. Then, computing flow= 7+1+5+2=15. Hence, maximum flow=15.

9. A simple acyclic path between source and sink which pass through only positive weighted edges is called?
a) augmenting path
b) critical path
c) residual path
d) maximum path
Answer: a
Clarification: Augmenting path between source and sink is a simple path without cycles. Path consisting of zero slack edges is called critical path.

10. In what time can an augmented path be found?
a) O(|E| log |V|)
b) O(|E|)
c) O(|E|²)
d) O(|E|² log |V|)
Answer: b
Clarification: An augmenting path can be found in O(|E|) mathematically by an unweighted shortest path algorithm.

11. Dinic’s algorithm runs faster than the Ford-Fulkerson algorithm.
a) true
b) false

Answer: a
Clarification: Dinic’s algorithm includes construction of level graphs and resLidual graphs and finding of augmenting paths along with blocking flow and is faster than the Ford-Fulkerson algorithm.

12. What is the running time of an unweighted shortest path algorithm whose augmenting path is the path with the least number of edges?
a) O(|E|)
b) O(|E||V|)
c) O(|E|²|V|)
d) O(|E| log |V|)
Answer: c
Clarification: Each augmenting step takes O(|E|) using an unweighted shortest path algorithm yielding a O(|E|2|V|) bound on the running time.

13. Who is the formulator of Maximum flow problem?
a) Lester R. Ford and Delbert R. Fulkerson
b) T.E. Harris and F.S. Ross
c) Y.A. Dinitz
d) Kruskal
Answer: b
Clarification: The first ever people to formulate Maximum flow problem were T.E. Harris and F.S. Ross. Lester R. Ford and Delbert R. Fulkerson formulated Ford- Fulkerson algorithm.

14. What is the running time of Dinic’s blocking flow algorithm?
a) O(V²E)
b) O(VE²)
c) O(V³)
d) O(E max |f|)

Answer: a
Clarification: The running time of Dinic’s blocking flow algorithm is O(V²E). The running of Ford-Fulkerson algorithm is O(E max |f|).

15. How many constraints does flow have?
a) one
b) three
c) two
d) four
Answer: c
Clarification: A flow is a mapping which follows two constraints- conservation of flows and capacity constraints.