62

ASSIGNMENT PROBLEMS

62.1 INTRODUCTION
Imagine, if in a printing press there is one machine and one
operator is there to operate. How would you employ the worker?

Your immediate answer will be, the available operator will

operate the machine.

Again suppose there are two machines in the press and two
operators are engaged at different rates to operate them. Which
operator should operate which machine for maximising profit?

Similarly, if there are n machines available and n persons are

engaged at different rates to operate them. Which operator should
be assigned to which machine to ensure maximum efficiency?

While answering the above questions we have to think about

the interest of the press, so we have to find such an assignment
by which the press gets maximum profit on minimum investment.
Such problems are known as "assignment problems".

In this lesson we will study such problems.

62.2 OBJECTIVES
After completion of this lesson you will be able to:

l formulate the assignment problem

l know Hungarian method to find proper assignment
l employ Hungarian method to find proper assignment
98::Mathematics

62.3 FORMULATION OF THE PROBLEM

Let there are n jobs and n persons are available with different
skills. If the cost of doing jth work by ith person is c ij. Then the
cost matrix is given in the table 1 below:

Jobs
1 2 3 ........ j ........ n Table
Persons 1
1 c 11 c 12 c 13 ........ c 1j ........ c 1n

2 c 21 c 22 c 23 ........ c 2j ........ c 2n

. . . . ............ .............
. . . . ............ .............
. . . . ............ .............
. . . . ............ .............
i c i1 c i2 c i3 ........ c ij ........ c in
. . . .
. ............. ............
. . .
. ............. ............
. . .
. ............. .............
. . .
n c n1 c n2 c n3 ........ c nj ........ c nn

Now the problem is which work is to be assigned to whom so

that the cost of completion of work will be minimum.

Mathematically, we can express the problem as follows:

n n
To minimize z (cost) = Σ Σ c ij x ij; [ i=1,2,...n; j=1,2,...n] ...(1)
i=1 j=1

where x ij =
{ 1; if ith person is assigned jth work

0; if ith person is not assigned the jth work

with the restrictions

n
(i) Σ xij =1; j=1,2,...n., i.e., ith person will do only one work.
i=1
n
(ii) Σ xij=1; i=1,2,...n.,i.e., jth work will be done only by one person.
j=1
 Assignment Problems :: 99

62.4 ASSIGNMENT ALGORITHM

(The Hungarian Method)
In order to find the proper assignment it is essential for us
to know the Hungarian method. This method is dependent upon
two vital theorems, stated as below.

Theorem 1: If a constant is added (or subtracted) to every element

of any row (or column) of the cost matrix [cij] in an assingment
problem then an assingment which minimises the total cost for the
new matrix will also minimize the total cost matrix.

Theorem 2: If all cij ≥ 0 and there exists a solution

xij = X ij such that

∑ c ij xij = 0.
i

then this solution is an optimal solution, i.e., minimizes z.

The computational proecdure is given as under:

Step I (A) Row reduction:

Subtract the minimum entry of each row from all the

entires of the respective row in the cost matrix.

∑ (B) Column reduction:

j
After completion of row reduction, subtract the minimum
entry of each column from all the entires of the
respective column.
Step II Zero assignment:
(A) Starting with first row of the matrix received in first
step, examine the rows one by one until a row containing
exactly one zero is found. Then an experimental
assignment indicated by ‘ ’ is marked to that zero.
Now cross all the zeros in the column in which the
assignment is made. This procedure should be adopted
for each row assignment.
(B) When the set of rows has been completely examined, an
identical procedure is applied successively to columns.
Starting with column 1, examine all columns until a
column containing exactly one zero is found. Then make
an experimental assignment in that position and cross
other zeros in the row in which the assignment was made.
Continue these successive operations on rows and columns
until all zero’s have either been assigned or corssed-out.
100 :: Mathematics

Now there are two possibilities:

(a) Either all the zeros are assigned or crossed out, i.e., we get
the maximal assignment.
or
(b) At least two zeros are remained by assignment or by crossing
out in each row or column. In this situation we try to exclude
some of the zeros by trial and error method.

This completes the second step. After this step we can get
two situations.

(i) Total assigned zero’s = n

The assignment is optimal.
(ii) Total assigned zero’s < n
Use step III and onwards.

Step III: Draw of minimum lines to cover zero’s

In order to cover all the zero’s at least once you may

adopt the following procedure.
(i) Marks (√) to all rows in which the assignment has
not been done.
(ii) See the position of zero in marked (√) row and then
mark (√) to the corresponding column.
(iii) See the marked (√) column and find the position of
a s s i g n e d z e r o ’ s a n d t h e n m a r k ( √) t o t h e
corresponding rows which are not marked till now.
(iv) Repeat the procedure (ii) and (iii) till the completion
of marking.
(v) Draw the lines through unmarked rows and marked
columns.
Note: If the above method does not work then make an
arbitrary assignment and then follow step IV.
Step IV: Select the smallest element from the uncovered elements.
(i) Subtract this smallest element from all those
elements which are not covered.
(ii) Add this smallest element to all those elements
which are at the intersection of two lines.
Step V: Thus we have increased the number of zero’s. Now,
 Assignment Problems :: 101

modify the matrix with the help of step II and find the
required assignment.
This procedure will be more clear by the following examples.

Example A:
Four persons A,B,C and D are to be assigned four jobs I, II, III
and IV. The cost matrix is given as under, find the proper
assignment.

Man A B C D
Jobs
I 8 10 17 9
II 3 8 5 6
III 10 12 11 9
IV 6 13 9 7

Solution :
In order to find the proper assignment we apply the Hungarian
algorithm as follows:
I (A) Row reduction
Man A B C D
Jobs
I 0 2 9 1
II 0 5 2 3
III 1 3 2 0
IV 0 7 3 1

I (B) Column reduction

Man A B C D
Jobs
I 0 0 7 1
II 0 3 0 3
III 1 1 0 0
IV 0 5 1 1
102 :: Mathematics

II(A) and (B) Zero assignment

Man A B C D
Jobs
I 0 0 7 1
II 0 3 0 3
III 1 1 0 0
IV 0 5 1 1

In this way all the zero’s are either crossed out or assigned.
Also total assigned zero’s = 4 (i.e., number of rows or columns).
Thus, the assignment is optimal.
From the table we get I → B; II → C: III → D and IV → A.
Example B:
There are five machines and five jobs are to be assigned and the
associated cost matrix is as follows. Find the proper assignment.
Machines
I II III IV V
A 6 12 3 11 15
B 4 2 7 1 10
Jobs C 8 11 10 7 11
D 16 19 12 23 21
E 9 5 7 6 10

Solution:
In order to find the proper assignment, we apply the Hungarian
method as follows:
IA (Row reduction)
Machines
I II III IV V
A 3 9 0 8 12
B 3 1 6 0 9
Jobs C 1 4 3 0 4
D 4 7 0 11 9
E 4 0 2 1 5
 Assignment Problems :: 103

IB (Column reduction)
Machines
I II III IV V
A 2 9 0 8 8
B 2 1 6 0 5
Jobs C 0 4 3 0 0
D 3 7 0 11 5
E 3 0 2 1 1
II (Zero assignment)
Machines
I II III IV V
A 2 9 0 8 8
B 2 1 6 0 5
Jobs C 0 4 3 0 0
D 3 7 0 11 5
E 3 0 2 1 1

From the last table we see that all the zeros are either
assigned or crossed out, but the total number of assignment,
i.e., 4<5 (number of jobs to be assigned to machines). Therefore,
we have to follow step III and onwards as follows:

Step III
Machines

I II III IV V
A 2 9 0 8 8 √
B 2 1 6 0 5
Jobs C 0 4 3 0 0
D 3 7 0 11 5 √
E 3 0 2 1 1

Step IV: Here, the smallest element among the uncovered elements
is 2.
104 :: Mathematics

(i) Subtract 2 from all those elements which are not

covered.
(ii) Add 2 to those entries which are at the junction of two
lines.
Complete the table as under:
Machines
I II III IV V
A 0 7 0 6 6
B 2 1 8 0 5
Jobs C 0 4 5 0 0
D 1 5 0 9 3
E 3 0 4 1 1
Step V. using step II again
Machines
I II III IV V
A 0 7 0 6 6
B 2 1 8 0 5
Jobs C 0 4 5 0 0
D 1 5 0 9 3
E 3 0 4 1 1

Thus, we have got five assignments as required by the problem.

The assignment is as follows:

A → I, B → IV, C → V, D → III and E → II.

This assignment holds for table given in step IV but from

theorem 1 it also holds for the original cost matrix. Thus from
the cost matrix the minimum cost = 6+1+11+12+5=Rs.35.

Note:
If we are given a maximization problem then convert it into
minimization problem, simply, multiplying by -1 to each entry in
the effectiveness matrix and then solve it in the usual manner.
 Assignment Problems :: 105

Example C:
Solve the minimal assignment problem whose effectiveness matrix
is given by
A B C D
I 2 3 4 5
II 4 5 6 7
III 7 8 9 8
IV 3 5 8 4
Solution:
In order to find the proper assignment, we apply the Hungarian
method as follows:
Step I (A) A B C D
I 0 1 2 3
II 0 1 2 3
III 0 1 2 1
IV 0 2 5 1

I(B) A B C D

I 0 0 0 2

II 0 0 0 2

III 0 0 0 0

IV 0 1 3 0

Step II:
Since single zero neither exist in columns nor in rows, it is
usually easy to make zero assignments.
While examining rows successively, it is observed that row 4
has two zeros in both cells (4,1) and (4,4).
Now, arbitrarily make an experiemental assignment to one of
these two cells, say (4,1) and cross other zeros in row 4 and
column 1.
106 :: Mathematics

The tables given below show the necessary steps for reaching
the optimal assignment I → B, II → C, III → D, IV → A.

A B C D

I 0 0 0 2

II 0 0 0 2

III 0 0 0 0

IV 0 1 3 0

A B C D

I 0 0 0 2

II 0 0 0 2

III 0 0 0 0

IV 0 1 3 0

A B C D

I 0 0 0 2

II 0 0 0 2

III 0 0 0 0

IV 0 1 3 0

Other optimal assignments are also possible in this example.

I → A, II → B, III → C, IV → D
I → C, II → B, III → A, IV → D
I → C, II → B, III → D, IV → A
I → B, II → C, III → A, IV → D
} (each has cost 20)
 Assignment Problems :: 107

INTEXT QUESTIONS 62.1

1. An office has four workers, and four tasks have to be

performed. Workers differ in efficiency and tasks differ in
their intrinsic difficulty. Time each worker would take to
complete each task is given in the effectiveness matrix.
How the tasks should be allocated to each worker so as
to minimise the total man-hour?

Wrokers
I II III IV
A 5 23 14 8
B 10 25 1 23
Tasks C 35 16 15 12
D 16 23 21 7

2. A taxi hire company has one taxi at each of five depots

a,b,c,d and e. A customer requires a taxi in each town,
namely A,B,C,D and E. Distances (in kms) between depots
(origins) and towns (Destinations) are given in the following
distance matrix:

a b c d e
A 140 110 155 170 180
B 115 100 110 140 155
C 120 90 135 150 165
D 30 30 60 60 90
E 35 15 50 60 85

How should taxis be assigned to customers so as to

minimize the distance travelled?
108 :: Mathematics

WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNT

Flow chart for Assignment problem

START

Construct the effectivness

matrix if not already given

Row reduction

Column reduction

No Is Yes
zero assignment
possible

(i) Draw minimum number

of lines to cover all
the zeros
(ii) Choose the least uncovered
element
(iii)Subtract this from the
uncovered elements and
add it to the elements ASSIGNMENT
at intersection of the lines. Put square over the
zero and cross out
all zeros (if any) of
No Is Yes the corresponding
Zero assignment column.
Possible ↓
SOLUTION
Add the elements
of the given matrix
correspond to
each square
↓
STOP
 Assignment Problems :: 109

TERMINAL QUESTIONS
1. Solve the following assignment problems:

(a) Workers

I II III IV

A 1 19 10 4

Jobs B 6 21 7 19

C 31 12 11 8

D 12 19 17 3

(b) Persons

I II III IV

A 15 17 24 16

Jobs B 10 15 12 13

C 17 19 18 16

D 13 20 16 14

(c) Persons

A B C D

I 8 26 17 11

Jobs II 14 29 5 27

III 40 21 20 17

IV 19 26 24 10
110 :: Mathematics

2. Find the proper assignment of the assignment problem whose

cost matrix is given as under.

I II III IV V
A 10 6 4 8 3
B 2 11 7 7 6
C 5 10 11 4 8
D 6 5 3 2 5
E 11 7 10 11 7

3. Solve the following assignment problem.

I II III IV
1 8 9 10 11
2 10 11 12 13
3 13 14 15 13
4 9 11 14 10

ANSWERS TO INTEXT QUESTIONS

62.1

1. I → A, II → C, III → B, IV → D

2. A → e, B → c, C → b, D → a, E → d

min distance (km) = 180+110+90+30+60=470 km.

ANSWERS TO TERMINAL QUESTIONS

1. (a) A → I, B → III, C → II, D → IV

(b) A → II, B → III, C → IV, D → I

min cost = 17+12+16+13=58
(c) I → A, II → C, III → B, IV → D

2. A → V, B → I, C → IV, D → III, E → II
3. 1 → II, 2 → III, 3 → IV, 4 → I
or
1 → III, 2 → II, 3 → IV, 4 → I