Which type of problem focuses on minimizing the total cost of transporting products?

The correct answer centers on the Transportation Problem, which is a specific type of optimization problem in operations research. This problem is designed to determine the most cost-effective way to distribute a product from multiple suppliers to multiple consumers while satisfying supply and demand constraints.

In the Transportation Problem, the objective is to minimize transportation costs while ensuring that the supply from sources meets the demand from destinations. The solution accounts for various routes and their associated costs. This makes it a key model for logistics and supply chain management, as it directly relates to efficiency in resource allocation and cost reduction in transportation logistics.

The other options pertain to different types of optimization challenges. The Mixed Problem typically involves a combination of linear and non-linear programming elements, the Assignment Problem focuses on matching tasks with agents to minimize costs, and the Resource Allocation Problem deals with the distribution of limited resources among competing activities. These do not specifically target the transportation costs inherent in moving goods from producers to consumers like the Transportation Problem does, which is why the focus on minimizing transportation costs aligns squarely with the characteristics of the Transportation Problem.