A company is preparing a bid on a government contract for 40 units of a certain product.The operations manager estimates the assembly time required for the first two units to be 10.4 hours and 8.8 hours,respectively.Which unit,if any,will require approximately one-half the time of the first unit? A)18^th unit B)19^th unit C)20^th unit D)21^st unit E)22^nd unit

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The time required for each subsequent unit is reduced due to the learning curve effect, which typically follows a pattern where the time to produce each unit decreases at a consistent rate as more units are produced. Given the reduction from 10.4 hours for the first unit to 8.8 hours for the second unit, we can infer a learning curve. To find the unit requiring approximately half the time of the first unit (5.2 hours), we extrapolate this learning curve. Without the exact rate of learning specified, we can't calculate the exact unit, but based on typical learning curve effects, it would take several units before the time is halved. Among the provided options, the 19th unit is a reasonable estimate for when the time might be halved, assuming a consistent rate of improvement.

A Company Is Preparing a Bid on a Government Contract