2019(2)
Duration: 3 min
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The video presents a multiple-choice question from the GATE 2019 exam about Dijkstra's algorithm. The instructor analyzes each of the four options to determine which statement is not true. He confirms that options (A), (B), and (D) are true: Dijkstra's algorithm can find the shortest path within the same graph data structure, it always selects the node with the smallest known distance, and it requires non-negative edge weights. He then focuses on option (C), which states that the shortest path always passes through the least number of vertices. To disprove this, he draws a graph with vertices S, A, B, C, and D, and demonstrates that the shortest path from S to D (S->A->B->D with a total cost of 8) is not the path with the fewest vertices (S->C->D with a cost of 9). This counterexample shows that the shortest path is based on minimizing total weight, not the number of vertices, making (C) the correct answer to the question.
Chapters
0:00 – 2:00 00:00-02:00
The video begins with a question displayed on screen: 'When using Dijkstra's algorithm to find shortest path in a graph, which of the following statement is not true? (NET 2019 DEC)'. The four options are listed: (A) It can find shortest path within the same graph data structure, (B) Every time a new node is visited, we choose the node with smallest known distance/cost to visit first, (C) Shortest path always passes through least number of vertices, and (D) The graph needs to have a non-negative weight on every edge. The instructor, visible in the bottom right, begins to analyze the options. He marks (A) as true, explaining that the algorithm operates on the graph itself. He marks (B) as true, stating that the core of Dijkstra's algorithm is to always pick the node with the minimum distance. He then marks (D) as true, noting that negative weights can cause the algorithm to fail. He then focuses on option (C), which he identifies as the incorrect statement, and begins to explain why.
2:00 – 2:38 02:00-02:38
The instructor draws a graph on the screen to provide a counterexample for option (C). The graph has vertices S, A, B, C, and D. The edges are S->A (weight 1), A->B (weight 1), B->D (weight 6), S->C (weight 2), and C->D (weight 7). He calculates the cost of the path S->A->B->D as 1+1+6=8. He calculates the cost of the path S->C->D as 2+7=9. He concludes that the shortest path from S to D is S->A->B->D, which has 3 vertices (A, B, D). The path S->C->D has only 2 vertices (C, D), which is fewer. Since the shortest path does not pass through the least number of vertices, the statement in (C) is false. He marks (C) as 'false' and confirms it is the correct answer to the question.
The video systematically evaluates four statements about Dijkstra's algorithm. It confirms that the algorithm operates on the same graph, always selects the node with the minimum known distance, and requires non-negative edge weights. The key insight is that the algorithm's goal is to minimize the total path weight, not the number of vertices. The instructor uses a clear counterexample to demonstrate that a path with a lower total weight can have more vertices than a path with a higher total weight, thereby proving that the shortest path does not necessarily pass through the least number of vertices. This logical disproof identifies (C) as the only false statement.