
USACO 2025 January Contest, Platinum
Problem 1. DFS Order
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Bessie has a simple undirected graph with vertices labeled 1…N (2≤N≤750). She generates a depth-first search (DFS) order of the graph by calling the function dfs(1), defined by the following C++ code. Each adjacency list (adj[i] for all 1≤i≤N) may be permuted arbitrarily before starting the depth first search, so a graph can have multiple possible DFS orders.
vector<bool> vis(N + 1); vector<vector<int>> adj(N + 1); // adjacency list vector<int> dfs_order; void dfs(int x) { if (vis[x]) return; vis[x] = true; dfs_order.push_back(x); for (int y : adj[x]) dfs(y); }
You are given the initial state of the graph as well as the cost to change the state of each edge. Specifically, for every pair of vertices (i,j) satisfying 1≤i<j≤N, you are given an integer ai,j (0<|ai,j|≤1000) such that
- If ai,j>0, edge (i,j) is not currently in the graph, and can be added for cost ai,j.
- If ai,j<0, edge (i,j) is currently in the graph, and can be removed for cost −ai,j.
Determine the minimum total cost to change the graph so that [1,2…,N] is a possible DFS ordering.
INPUT FORMAT (input arrives from the terminal / stdin):
The first line contains N.Then N−1 lines follow. The j−1th line contains a1,j,a2,j,…,aj−1,j separated by spaces.
OUTPUT FORMAT (print output to the terminal / stdout):
The minimum cost to change the graph so that [1,2,…,N] is a possible DFS ordering.SAMPLE INPUT:
4 1 2 3 40 6 11
SAMPLE OUTPUT:
10
Initially, the graph contains no edges. (1,2),(2,3),(2,4) can be added for a total cost of 1+3+6. The graph now has two possible DFS orderings: [1,2,3,4],[1,2,4,3].
SAMPLE INPUT:
5 -1 10 -2 10 -7 10 -6 -4 -5 10
SAMPLE OUTPUT:
5
Initially, the graph contains edges (1,2),(2,3),(2,4),(1,5),(2,5),(3,5). Edge (3,5) can be removed for a cost of 5.
SAMPLE INPUT:
4 -1 -2 300 4 -5 6
SAMPLE OUTPUT:
9
Initially, the graph contains edges (1,2),(1,3),(2,4). Edge (2,4) can be removed and edge (1,4) can be added for a total cost of 5+4=9.
SCORING:
- Inputs 4-9: All ai,j>0
- Inputs 10-16: N≤50
- Inputs 17-23: No additional constraints.
Problem credits: Benjamin Qi