The number of Basic variables in any solution of Transportation problem with m-origins and n-destinations is

Correct option is D

Solution:
In a transportation problem:
There are m supply constraints (for origins) and n demand constraints (for destinations).
But one of these constraints is redundant (because total supply equals total demand), so only m + n − 1 equations are independent.
Therefore, the number of basic variables (non-zero allocations) in any basic feasible solution is at most m + n − 1.

Correct Answer:
D. at most m + n − 1