Question

What is the evaluation function in A* approach?

(a) Heuristic function

(b) Path cost from start node to current node

(c) Path cost from start node to current node + Heuristic cost

(d) Average of Path cost from start node to current node and Heuristic cost

I have been asked this question in an online quiz.

This key question is from Informed Search and Exploration topic in chapter Problem Solving of Artificial Intelligence

Answer 1

The correct answer is (c) Path cost from start node to current node + Heuristic cost

The explanation: The most widely-known form of best-first search is called A* search. It evaluates nodes by combining g(n), the cost to reach the node, and h(n.), the cost to get from the node to the goal: f(n) = g(n) + h(n). Since g(n) gives the path cost from the start node to node n, and h(n) is the estimated cost of the cheapest path from n to the goal.