Westward Ho! Musing on Mathematics and Mechanics

摘要

In his latest feature,Alan Champneys asks why there are so many establishments throughout the world that are named Hotel Bristol. It is thought the name relates to the remarkable Bishop of Derry, Frederick Hervey, who in 1779 succeeded his two elder brothers to become the 4th Earl of Bristol. A wealthy man,a philanthropist, bon viveur and probable philanderer, he spent many years on a never-ending grand tour of Europe. After Hervey's death, and following the dark years of the Napoleonic Wars, smart hotels opening in European cities became named after him, seemingly to rekindle the pre-war bonhomie. Today there are thought to be over 200 Hotel Bristols across the world, 50 in Italy alone. However, if he were alive today, what would be the most efficient route for Lord Bristol to visit all ‘his'hotels? This is an example of the famous travelling salesman problem,the efficient solution of which lies at the heart of many modern optimisation problems.