A Network Problem

Stage 1 – General Mathematics
Assessment Type 2: Mathematical Investigation
NETWORK
INVESTIGATION
Trip to Cairns QLD
By – Zahra Sharifi
A Network Problem
Introduction
A collection of connected items known as nodes or vertices is referred to as a network. A network's
edges are the distances between its nodes, also known as vertices, and other points. This method is
applied top to bottom to help discover the shortest path possible. If someone is going on a road trip and
wants to determine the quickest route to travel or wants to go on an enjoyable lengthy drive across the
country, they can apply their network solving skills in real world circumstances. I have planned to go to
on a road trip to Cairns, QLD. To ensure that we have a good amount of rest, we need to have multiple
stops. Whitin each route there are different stops such as petrol, grocery shops, fast food restaurants, and
good hotels. I will travel a variety of paths to reach my objective during my work, including stops at
well-known locations. The best path will be decided through a discussion and the use of mathematics.
The problem
You are planning a road trip between two major cities in Australia (or towns in your state). There are
several routes that can be taken without backtracking. Determine the ‘best’ route to take using a variety
of different ‘costs’ (such as distance, time, road conditions, number of tourist attractions available, etc)
along each of the arcs of the road network.
Method
I used Google Maps to help me research different routes that I could take to go from Paralowie School in
Adelaide to Cairns in Queensland. This gave me the option to look up optional stops that I could want to
stop by and check out while I was travelling. The two routes that are the most cost-effective in terms of
distance, time, road conditions, gas stations and restaurants are depicted in the figure below, which
illustrates the planning of the road trip. After determining which stops, I wanted to make and how to go from
one to the next, I entered the information into a table (table 1). Into the table below it included specific
locations I would be visiting on the way to Cairns QLD and calculated the times and distances between each
town with information about the restaurants, and gas stations. Furthermore, there is plenty of time and space
to rest and take bathroom breaks as needed, with stops spaced no more than eight hours apart. The
Queensland government states that unless there is no other option, you should not drive for longer than eight
hours at a time and take breaks every two hours (Queensland, 2014). This can all be seen on table 1.
Table 1: Planning town stop
Paralowie R-12 High School
Burra
(1 hr 41 min, 148km)
Resting spot, Lookouts
Picnic area
Burra to Terowie
(43 min, 63km) Mana Hill to Cockburn
Petrol Station (2 hr 10 min, 205km)
Restaurants/Hotel Café
Grocery shopping
Terowie to Mana Hill Parks
(1 hr 27 min, 141km) Restaurants
Resting area Fuel
Lake, Garden, Rose Garden
Cockburn to Broken Hill

(2 hr 20 min, 230km)
Museum, Art Gallery
Hotel, Fast Food
Broken Hill to Cobar Cobar to Cunnamulla Gowrie Station to Blackall

(3 hr 46 min, 456km) (4 hr 26 min, 416km) (2 hr 58 min, 310km)
Grocery Shopping, Fuel Nature reserves Hospital
Bakery
Cunnamulla to Gowrie Station Playground
(2 hr 22 min, 238km) Park
Resting spot, Parks Fuel
Blackall to Aramac Aramac to Homestead Charters Towers to Ingham to Silky Oaks

(1 hr 55 min, 173km) (3 hr 50 min, 354km) Ingham (2 hr 10 min, 317km)
Fast Food, Hotel Playground, Fuel (2 hr 51 min, 245km) Hotel
Toilet Restaurants
Homestead to Campaspe Campaspe to Charters Towers Resting Spot Food
(20 min, 30km) (45 min, 50km) Petrol Station Gardens
Grocery Shopping, river Lakes, Lookouts, Hospital Food/Bakery Cafés/Bakery
Silky Oaks to Maadi Maadi to Daveson Daveson to Babinda

(1 hr 34 min, 207km) (10 min, 7km) (47min, 62km)
Garden View Hospital Golf Club
Pharmacy Seafood Art Gallery
Babinda to Cairns QLD
(50 min, 59km)
Museum, Art Gallery
Playground/Park, Fuel
Hotel/Restaurants
A diagram of the networks has been produced using the data and information gathered, which can be found
in Table 1. Because of the distance between Paralowie R-12 and Cairns QLD, there are numerous possible
routes. Every network is listed in Table 2.
Table 2: Networks
Network Departing Destination Distance Distance Time (hrs) Time
km (accum) (accum)
Paralowie School Burra 148 148 1:41:00 1:41:00
Burra Terowie 63 211 0:43:00 2:24:00
Terowie Mana Hill 141 352 1:27:00 3:51:00
Mana Hill Cockburn 205 557 2:10:00 6:01:00
Cockburn Broken Hill 230 787 2:20:00 8:21:00
Broken Hill Cobar 456 1,243 3:46:00 12:07:00
Cobar Cunnamulla 416 1,659 4:26:00 16:33:00
1 Cunnamulla Gowrie Station 238 1,897 2:22:00 18:55:00
Gowrie Station Blackall 310 2,207 2:58:00 21:13:00
Blackall Aramac 173 2,380 1:55:00 23:08:00
Aramac Homestead 354 2,734 3:50:00 26:58:00
Homestead Campaspe 30 2,764 0:20:00 27:18:00
Campaspe Charters Towers 50 2,814 0:45:00 28:03:00
Charters Towers Ingham 245 3,059 2:51:00 30:54:00
Ingham Silky Oaks 317 3,376 2:10:00 33:04:00
Silky Oaks Maadi 207 3,583 1:34:00 34:38:00
Maadi Daveson 7 3,590 0:10:00 34:48:00
Daveson Babinda 62 3,652 0:47:00 35:35:00
Babinda Cairns QLD 59 3,711 0:50:00 60:15:00

(km) (accum) (accum)
Paralowie School Blanchetown 125 125 1:20:00 1:20:00
Blanchetown Berri 103 228 1:09:00 2:29:00
Berri Balranald 318 546 3:32:00 6:01:00
Balranald Hillston 301 847 3:08:00 9:09:00
Hillston Gilgunnia 145 992 1:31:00 10:40:00
Gilgunnia Cobar 109 1,101 1:20:00 11:50:00
Cobar Bourke 160 1,261 1:41:00 13:31:00
2 Bourke Gowrie Station 475 1,736 5:03:00 18:34:00
Gowrie Station Aramac 453 2,189 4:53:00 23:27:00
Aramac Torrens Creek 270 2,459 2:55:00 26:22:00
Torrens Creek Charters Towers 158 2,617 1:44:00 28:06:00
Silky Oaks Tully 10 2,963 0:15:00 32:15:00
Tully Midgenoo 7 2,970 0:08:00 32:23:00
Midgenoo Maadi 8 2,978 0:09:00 32:32:00
Maadi Innisfail 40 3,018 0:35:00 33:03:00
Innisfail Bungalow 85 3,103 1:05:00 34:08:00
Bungalow Cairns QLD 10 3,113 0:15:00 34:23:00

(km) (accum) (accum
Berri Balranald 318 546 3:34:00 6:04:00
Hillston Gilgunnia 145 992 1:30:00 10:44:00
Gilgunnia Cobar 109 1,101 1:08:00 11:52:00
Cobar Cunnamulla 416 1,517 4:26:00 16:18:00
3 Cunnamulla Gowrie Station 238 1,755 2:30:00 18:48:00
Blackall Aramac 173 2,238 1:55:00 23:02:00
Aramac Torrens Creek 270 2,508 2:50:00 25:52:00
Torrens Creek Charters Towers 158 2,666 1:43:00 27:20:00
Silky Oaks Maadi 207 3,435 3:02:00 36:27:00
Maadi Innisfail 99 3,534 1:02:00 37:27:00
Innisfail Bungalow 85 3,619 1:04:00 38:33:00
Bungalow Cairns QLD 10 3,629 0:15:00 38:48:00

Berri Balranald 318 546 3:34:00 6:03:00
Balranald Hay 132 678 1:24:00 7:27:00
Hay Mount Hope 276 954 2:52:00 10:19:00
4 Mount Hope Cunnamulla 564 1,518 5:56:00 16:15:00
Cunnamulla Gowrie Station 238 1,756 2:30:00 18:45:00
Blackall Aramac 173 2,239 1:55:00 22:59:00
Aramac Charters Towers 428 2,667 4:39:00 27:38:00
Silky Oaks Maadi 207 3,435 3:02:00 38:03:00
Maadi Cairns QLD 127 3,562 1:44:00 39:47:00

Blanchetown Balranald 418 543 4:38:00 5:58:00
Hillston Cobar 255 1,099 2:40:00 11:48:00
5 Cobar Bourke 160 1,259 1:40:00 13:28:00
Bourke Cunnamulla 256 1,515 2:45:00 16:13:00
Cunnamulla Blackall 501 2,016 5:20:00 21.33:00
Blackall Torrens Creek 443 2,459 4:48:00 26:21:00
Torrens Creek Tully 499 2,958 5:36:00 31.57:00
Tully Innisfail 55 3,013 0:45:00 32.02:00
Innisfail Bungalow 85 3,098 1:05:00 33.07:00
Bungalow Cairns QLD 10 3,108 0:15:00 33.22:00
Analysis – The best path
Distance Time
According to the tables for path 1 to 5, According to the tables for path 1 to 5, the
the results state that the shortest path to results state that the quickest path to take to
take to Cairns QLD is path 5 with Cairns QLD is path 2 with 34:23:00.
3108km. The path is:
The path is: Paralowie School > Blanchetown > Berri >
Paralowie school > Blanchetown > Balranald > Hillston > Gilgunnia > Cobar >
Balranald > Hillston > Cobar > Bourke Bourke > Gowrie Station > Aramac > Torrens
> Cunnamulla > Blackall > Torrens Creek > Charters Towers > Ingham > Silky
Creek > Tully > Innisfail > Bungalow Oaks > Tully > Midgenoo > Maadi > Innisfail
> Cairns QLD > Bungalow > Cairns QLD
Considering these findings, I think that path 5 proves to be the best option with less distance to travel,
while path 2 with less hours of travelling. Every stop offered a range of amenities, including eateries,
lodging, gas stations, and tourist sites. Since there was only a three-hour gap between each stop, the
driver could refuel both themselves and the vehicle to get to the next one. Overall, the best route to
Cairns, QLD I believe is Path/Network 2 because of being the options with less hour of travelling.
Results
Ultimately, network 2 is the most suitable network to travel to from Paralowie School to Cairns QLD, after
the investigation and determination of the various routes available in consideration of the time, distance,
nature-related activities, picnic spots, petrol stations, visit to parks and lakes, food options, and road
conditions. This is the greatest route because it offers a variety of food options because it passes by bakeries,
cafes, and other food establishments. On the other hand, people can visit a picnic if food is prepared ahead
of time in order to save money on the long drive. Referring to table 2 in the network 2, I will encounter
lakes, creeks, and rivers. Additionally, network 2 gas stations are located at each stop along the route so that
the car can be refueled whenever it runs out. In addition, there is a tourist attraction and art exhibit nearby
that individuals interested in creative art, can visit to view the place. Since network 2 is quicker and I'll be
spending more time at stops, I'd prefer to use it. I also want to get to Cairns QLD as soon as possible so I can
still enjoy the long drive.
Discussion
I chose route two out of the five designated routes I had created, because of its efficiency and
variety of stops, which I went with network two. I also went the shortest route possible because gas
prices have been rising and they will continue to do so. As for other expenses, I believe it would be
preferable to make savings wherever possible. I decided to take route two after going over my
networks once more because of the tourist stops there, which have sentimental significance. We can
arrive at our destination earlier and have more time and energy to unpack and unwind because this
route takes less time to travel. The fact that that route is quicker to take and covers a greater distance
indicates that it is the most effective option, which is what we want. After comparing the
five routes, I believe that route two is the most effective and appropriate from all of it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, network two is the best option route from all five to take on a long drive, considering
the costs and the places to stop on the way, this route has the best places, foods, rivers, and all the
foods/fuels doesn’t cost that much. However, depending on anyone’s choice they might take a
different route. Moreover, the quickest route to take based on this investigation would be
path/network 2.
Bibliography
Google (2022).Google Maps. [online] Google Maps. Available at: https://www.google.com/maps.Matt

(2023).
Queensland, S. of (2014) Road safety and vehicle maintenance for long trips, Queensland Government.
Available at: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/holiday-travel/long-trips (Accessed: 23 October 2023).

A Network Problem

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

A Network Problem

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Stage 1 – General Mathematics

Assessment Type 2: Mathematical Investigation

Paralowie R-12 High School

Cockburn to Broken Hill

Broken Hill to Cobar Cobar to Cunnamulla Gowrie Station to Blackall

Blackall to Aramac Aramac to Homestead Charters Towers to Ingham to Silky Oaks

Silky Oaks to Maadi Maadi to Daveson Daveson to Babinda

Network Departing Destination Distance Distance Time (hrs) Time

Network Departing Destination Distance Distance Time (hrs) Time

Network Departing Destination Distance Distance Time (hrs) Time

Network Departing Destination Distance Distance Time (hrs) Time

Analysis – The best path

Google (2022).Google Maps. [online] Google Maps. Available at: https://www.google.com/maps.Matt

You might also like