Question 1

Table 14-3
A pawn shop in Arlington, Texas, has a drive-through window to better serve customers. The following tables provide information about the time between arrivals and the service times required at the window on a particularly busy day of the week. All times are in minutes.  The first random number generated for arrivals is used to tell when the first customer arrives after opening.
-According to Table 14-3, the time between successive arrivals is 1, 2, 3, or 4 minutes. The store opens at 8:00 a.m., and random numbers are used to generate arrivals and service times. The first random number to generate an arrival is 39, while the first service time is generated by the random number 94. What time would the first customer finish transacting business?
A) 8:03
B) 8:04
C) 8:05
D) 8:06
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of Table 14-3
A pawn shop in Arlington, Texas,...

Question 2

Operational gaming involves a single player competing with the computer simulated game.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Operational gaming involves a single player competing...

Question 3

There are three categories of simulation models: Monte Carlo, operational gaming, and systems simulation.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. There are indeed three main categories of simulation models: Monte Carlo, operational gaming, and systems simulation.

Question 4

Table 14-2
A pharmacy is considering hiring another pharmacist to better serve customers. To help analyze this situation, records are kept to determine how many customers will arrive in any 10-minute interval. Based on 100 ten-minute intervals, the following probability distribution has been developed and random numbers assigned to each event. 
-According to Table 14-2, the number of arrivals in any 10-minute period is between 6 and 10 inclusive. Suppose the next 3 random numbers were 02, 81, and 18. These numbers are used to simulate arrivals into the pharmacy. What would the average number of arrivals per 10-minute period be based on this set of occurrences?
A) 6
B) 7
C) 8
D) 9
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of Table 14-2
A pharmacy is considering hiring another...

Question 5

Table 14-1
A new young mother has opened a cloth diaper service. She is interested in simulating the number of diapers required for a one-year- old. She hopes to use this data to show the cost effectiveness of cloth diapers. The table below shows the number of diapers demanded daily and the probabilities associated with each level of demand. 
-According to Table 14-1, if the random number 96 were generated for a particular day, what would the simulated demand be for that day?
A) 5
B) 6
C) 7
D) 8
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of Table 14-1
A new young mother has opened...

Question 6

If, for a simple queuing or waiting line problem, we compare the solution from an analytical model with that from a simulation, we will typically find them to be exactly the same.

Accepted Answer

While the solutions may be very similar, there can be slight differences due to the inherent randomness and variability in a simulation. Additionally, the assumptions and simplifications made in an analytical model may not perfectly match the real-world situation being simulated.

Question 7

Table 14-2
A pharmacy is considering hiring another pharmacist to better serve customers. To help analyze this situation, records are kept to determine how many customers will arrive in any 10-minute interval. Based on 100 ten-minute intervals, the following probability distribution has been developed and random numbers assigned to each event. 
-According to Table 14-2, the number of arrivals in any 10-minute period is between 6 and 10, inclusive. Suppose the next three random numbers were 18, 89, and 67, and these were used to simulate arrivals in the next three 10-minute intervals. How many customers would have arrived during this 30-minute time period?
A) 22
B) 23
C) 24
D) 25
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

The random number 18 is between 6 and 10, inclusive, so it represents 8 arrivals. The random number 89 is not between 6 and 10, inclusive, so it is discarded. The random number 67 is between 6 and 10, inclusive, so it represents 7 arrivals. Therefore, the total number of arrivals during the 30-minute time period is 8 + 7 = 15.

Question 8

Table 14-1
A new young mother has opened a cloth diaper service. She is interested in simulating the number of diapers required for a one-year- old. She hopes to use this data to show the cost effectiveness of cloth diapers. The table below shows the number of diapers demanded daily and the probabilities associated with each level of demand. 
-According to Table 14-1, if the random number 40 were generated for a particular day, what would the simulated demand be for that day?
A) 5
B) 6
C) 7
D) 20
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of Table 14-1
A new young mother has opened...

Question 9

The advantage of simulation over queuing or waiting line models is that simulation allows us to relax our assumptions regarding arrival and service distributions.

Accepted Answer

Simulation allows us to model more complex scenarios by using empirical data, while queuing or waiting line models require assumptions about the arrival and service distributions.

Question 10

The following is not an advantage of simulation:
A) It allows for the study of what-if questions.
B) Each simulation model is unique.
C) It allows the study of interaction of components or variables to determine which are important.
D) It allows time compression.
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

The statement "Each simulation model is unique" is not an advantage of simulation. It is a neutral fact that does not necessarily contribute to the usefulness or effectiveness of simulation.

Question 11

When establishing a probability distribution based on historical outcomes, the relative frequency for each possible outcome of a variable is found by dividing the frequency of each outcome by the total number of observations.

Accepted Answer

This is a correct explanation of how to establish a probability distribution based on historical outcomes.

Question 12

In assigning random numbers in a Monte Carlo simulation,
A) it is important to develop a cumulative probability distribution.
B) it is important to use a normal distribution for all variables simulated.
C) it is not important to assign probabilities to an exact range of random number intervals.
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Developing a cumulative probability distribution is important because it allows for the correct assignment of probabilities to random numbers and ensures that the simulation accurately represents the real-world situation being modeled. Using a normal distribution for all variables may not be appropriate or necessary, and assigning probabilities to an exact range of random number intervals can be important depending on the situation being modeled.

Question 13

If, in a simple queuing or waiting line problem, we wish to know the maximum likely waiting time, or the maximum likely length of the line, we must use a simulation model.

Accepted Answer

Simulation models allow us to model complex systems and scenarios, such as waiting lines, and can provide estimates of maximum likely waiting times or queue lengths.

Question 14

Simulation of maintenance problems can help management analyze various staffing strategies based on machine downtime and labor cost.

Accepted Answer

Simulation of maintenance problems can help management evaluate different staffing strategies by analyzing the impact of machine downtime on labor cost. By simulating different scenarios, management can determine the optimal staffing levels needed to minimize downtime and labor cost.

Question 15

Simulation can be effectively used in many
A) inventory problems.
B) plant layout problems.
C) maintenance policy problems.
D) sales forecasting problems.
E) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Simulation can be used in many areas, including inventory problems (to determine optimal stock levels and reorder points), plant layout problems (to test different layouts and identify potential bottlenecks), maintenance policy problems (to determine the most effective maintenance schedule), and sales forecasting problems (to simulate different scenarios and understand how changes in variables impact sales). Therefore, all of the above choices are correct.

Question 16

Table 14-2
A pharmacy is considering hiring another pharmacist to better serve customers. To help analyze this situation, records are kept to determine how many customers will arrive in any 10-minute interval. Based on 100 ten-minute intervals, the following probability distribution has been developed and random numbers assigned to each event. 
-According to Table 14-2, the number of arrivals in any 10-minute period is between 6 and 10, inclusive. Suppose the next three random numbers were 20, 50, and 79, and these were used to simulate arrivals in the next three 10-minute intervals. How many customers would have arrived during this 30-minute time period?
A) 18
B) 19
C) 20
D) 21
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of Table 14-2
A pharmacy is considering hiring another...

Question 17

Validation relates to building the right model.

Accepted Answer

Validation is the process of testing and fine-tuning a model to ensure that it accurately predicts outcomes. This ensures that the right model is built to achieve the desired results.

Question 18

Monte Carlo simulation was developed by ________.
A) John von Neumann
B) Eric von Brock
C) A.K. Erlang
D) P.K. Poisson
E) J.D. Monte Carlo

Accepted Answer

Monte Carlo simulation was developed by John von Neumann in the 1940s while working on the Manhattan Project.

Question 19

Table 14-3
A pawn shop in Arlington, Texas, has a drive-through window to better serve customers. The following tables provide information about the time between arrivals and the service times required at the window on a particularly busy day of the week. All times are in minutes.  The first random number generated for arrivals is used to tell when the first customer arrives after opening.
-According to Table 14-3, the time between successive arrivals is 1, 2, 3, or 4 minutes. If the store opens at 8:00 a.m., and random numbers are used to generate arrivals, what time would the first customer arrive if the first random number were 02?
A) 8:01
B) 8:02
C) 8:03
D) 8:04
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

The first random number is 02, which is between 00 and 04. According to Table 14-3, this corresponds to an arrival time of 1 minute after the store opens. Therefore, the first customer would arrive at 8:01 a.m.

Question 20

Table 14-1
A new young mother has opened a cloth diaper service. She is interested in simulating the number of diapers required for a one-year- old. She hopes to use this data to show the cost effectiveness of cloth diapers. The table below shows the number of diapers demanded daily and the probabilities associated with each level of demand. 
-According to Table 14-1, what is the cumulative probability that demand is less than or equal to 7?
A) 0.85
B) 0.95
C) 0.80
D) 0.15
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

The cumulative probability that demand is less than or equal to 7 is 0.85, as indicated in Table 14-1.

Quiz 14: Simulation Modeling

Operational gaming involves a single player competing with the computer simulated game.

There are three categories of simulation models: Monte Carlo, operational gaming, and systems simulation.

If, for a simple queuing or waiting line problem, we compare the solution from an analytical model with that from a simulation, we will typically find them to be exactly the same.

The advantage of simulation over queuing or waiting line models is that simulation allows us to relax our assumptions regarding arrival and service distributions.

The following is not an advantage of simulation:

When establishing a probability distribution based on historical outcomes, the relative frequency for each possible outcome of a variable is found by dividing the frequency of each outcome by the total number of observations.

In assigning random numbers in a Monte Carlo simulation,

If, in a simple queuing or waiting line problem, we wish to know the maximum likely waiting time, or the maximum likely length of the line, we must use a simulation model.

Simulation of maintenance problems can help management analyze various staffing strategies based on machine downtime and labor cost.

Simulation can be effectively used in many

Validation relates to building the right model.

Monte Carlo simulation was developed by ________.