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Precalculus
Course: Precalculus > Unit 7
Lesson 2: Using matrices to represent dataUsing matrices to represent data: Networks
Matrices are basically tables of numeric values. But you may be surprised at how many real-world situations you can model with this structure. Here, for example, we represent a network of bus routes between cities. Created by Sal Khan.
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- Nodes and edges are concepts in graph theory. Graphs are used to model relations between objects. Each object is represented by a node. When two objects are related to each other, their nodes are connected by an edge.(4 votes)
- Now, this is cool and all, but would anyone actually use matrices like this in real life? If so, plz tell me how/when.
If not, plz can someone tell me what other things matrices are useful for in real life?
Thanks in advance!(1 vote)- Matrics (from what I know) are used to plot graphs and statistics but can also represent data in the real world like population, fertility rates and more. There are many uses to matrics and it can vary throughout different fields so if these aren't enough examples, I suggest looking up its uses within different working environments/fields(4 votes)
- I know its not the point, but what a terrible design, you end up with a load of buses in city 2 you don't need(2 votes)
- You're right, the design could be improved to minimize the number of unnecessary buses in City 2. One possible solution could be to implement a more flexible system, where buses are dynamically allocated based on demand. For example, buses could be dispatched from City 1 to City 2 only when there are enough passengers to justify the trip. Alternatively, the system could use smaller, more efficient vehicles that are better suited to the expected passenger load, which would help to reduce waste and improve overall efficiency. Ultimately, the best design will depend on the specific needs and constraints of the system, as well as the available technology and resources.(1 vote)
- Is matrix the same idea as two-way table?
It looks like two-way table to me.(1 vote)- It is Representation of data in rectangular form so it can have any dimension(2 votes)
- First decide, it's train or bus?(1 vote)
- How difficult would you say it is to understand(0 votes)
Video transcript
- [Instructor] We're
told this network diagram represents the different train
routes between three cities. Each node is a city
and each directed arrow represents a direct bus
route from city to city. So for example, this
arrow right over here, I guess would represent a direct bus route that starts in city three
and ends in city one, while this arrow that has
an arrow on both sides shows a route that both starts in city three and ends in city one, and a route that starts in city
one and ends in city three. So it says, complete the
matrix so it represents the number of direct
routes between the cities, where rows are starting points
and columns are end points. So this is the matrix right over here. I encourage you if you feel so inspired, and I encourage you to feel so inspired, pause this video and see if you can fill out this matrix right over here. You have nine entries in this matrix for each of these combinations between the starting city and ending city. All right, now let's do it together. So, what would go here? This would be the number of direct routes that start at city one
and end at city one. So if we start at city one, are there any things that
then end at city one? Well, no. It doesn't look like there's anything that starts at city one
and ends at city one. So I'll put a zero there. What about this one right over here? Well it needs to start at
city one and end at city two. So let's see. This starts at city one and
ends at city two, so that's one. We get two. And then we get three. And then we get four, 'cause
you can start at city one here and then end at city two. So we get four. Now how many start at city
one and end at city three? Pause this video and think
about that, actually. All right, we're gonna start at city one and end at city three. I'm going to get another color out here. So I could start here and go on this route and 'cause this arrow ends
at city three, so that's one. This middle one does not start at city one and end at city three. It goes the other way around,
so I'm not gonna count that. This one right over here,
I can go either way, so I could start at city
one and end at city three, 'cause we have that arrow there. And those look like the only two that start at city one
and end at city three. So that looks like, go
back to the original color, two routes right over there. Now what about starting at city
two and ending at city one? Well, if we start at city
two and end at city one, these three over here, all of these start at one and end at two. They don't go the other way. But this one on top with the double arrows you can go either way. So you could start at city
two and end at city one. So there's one route here. Let's see. Start at city two, end at city two. Well, I don't see anything that looks like that for city two, so this is going to be a zero. And then starts at city
two, ends at city three. So starts at city two, ends at city three. This arrow doesn't count, 'cause this starts at three, ends at two,
not the other way around. So we get a zero there as well. And then let's go to city three. How many start at three and end at one? So start at three and end at one? So this two-way arrow, you could do that. You could start at three and
end at one, so that's one. Then this one right over
here starts at three and ends at one because
we can see the arrow points to one right over there. And then it looks like,
and actually this one, I have so much that I've written here that I actually can't see
too well the original. Let me erase it actually,
so I can make sure I'm seeing things properly. Yeah, that one, too, looks like, so this one I can do, and then this one I can start at city three
and end at city one, as well. So it looks like we
have three paths there. Now start at city three, end at city two. That one's a little bit
more straight forward. That's that path there, so that is one. And then starts at city
three, ends at city three. Well, we have this one right over here. That's the only one, so I would put one. So there you have it. We have filled in this matrix. So which city has the
most incoming routes? Pause the video and think about that. So the city with the most incoming routes, we can look at the cities
that are the end points, and so city one has a total
of zero plus one plus three, has four incoming routes. City two has a total of four
plus one, five incoming routes. And city three has a total
of two plus zero plus one, has three incoming routes. So it looks like this would be city two with five incoming routes. Which city has the most outgoing routes? Well, then we would
just look the other way. Actually, pause the video
and think about that. Well, it looks like city one has six outgoing routes. City two only has one outgoing route. I'm just adding up along the row. And city three has, looks
like five outgoing routes. So city one was zero plus four plus two. There's a total of six
routes that start at city one and go out of the city, so that
is city one with six routes.