Audit note: fitness function description vs. formula

Finding: mismatch between text description and mathematical expression.

In a working draft, the text description of a fitness function may claim that a penalty term applies to one part of the routing system, while the equation applies it to another.

This is not a writing detail. It changes the behavior of the algorithm.

For example, if a carbon-related cost is described as applying only to conventional vehicles, then the model creates a direct incentive to assign routes to electric vehicles. But if the equation applies the same term to total route distance without vehicle-type distinction, the pressure is vehicle-type-neutral.

Those two formulations are not equivalent.

Audit rule

When text and formula disagree, do not silently choose the version that gives better results. Identify which version was actually used by the code and align the paper description to the implemented and tested formulation, unless there is enough time to change the formula and rerun all experiments.

Minimum-modification principle

• document the mismatch
• identify which layer is authoritative for the current experiment
• avoid changing multiple layers at once
• correct the smallest part necessary
• rerun only when the computational meaning changes

The goal is not to make the draft look cleaner. The goal is to prevent the reader from being told one model while the code solves another.