1

Running header: WEEK 11 WORK

1. Willow Brook National Bank operates a drive-up teller window that allows customers to
complete bank transactions without getting out of their cars. On weekday mornings,
arrivals to the drive-up teller window occur at random, with an arrival rate of 24
customers per hour or 0.4 customers per minute.
a. What is the mean or expected number of customers that will arrive in a five-minute

period?

Mean = 0.4 x 5 = 2

b. Assume that the Poisson probability distribution can be used to describe the arrival
process. Use the arrival rate in part (a) and compute the probabilities that exactly 0, 1, 2,
and 3 customers will arrive during a five-minute period.

m
given X Poisson (Mean =2 in 5 minutes)

er as
co
P(X=x) =(2^x)x exp(-2)/x!

eH w
o.
P(X=0)=(2^0) x Exp(-2)/1! = 0.1353353
rs e
ou urc
P(X=1)=(2^1) x Exp(-2)/1! =0.2706706
o

P(X=2)=(2^2) x Exp(-2)/2! = 0.2706706

aC s
vi y re

P(X=3)=(2^3) x Exp(-2)/3! = 0.180447

c. Delays are expected if more than three customers arrive during any five-minute period.
ed d
ar stu

What is the probability that delays will occur?

P(X>3) =1-P(X=0)-P(X=1)-P(X=2)-P(X=3) =0.1428765

is
Th

2. In the Willow Brook National Bank waiting line system (see Problem 1), assume that the
service times for the drive-up teller follow an exponential probability distribution with a
service rate of 36 customers per hour, or 0.6 customers per minute. Use the exponential
probability distribution to answer the following questions:
sh

a. What is the probability that the service time is one minute or less?
0.6 [ -e -0.6x/ 0.6]10
b. What is the probability that the service time is two minutes or less?

This study source was downloaded by 100000797521638 from CourseHero.com on 04-07-2021 20:18:23 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/11665297/QMB-5355/
 2

0.6 [ -e -0.6x/ 0.6]2 0

c. What is the probability that the service time is more than two minutes?

P(x > 2) = 1 –p(x < 2)

= 1-06988

5. The reference desk of a university library receives requests for assistance. Assume that a
Poisson probability distribution with an arrival rate of 10 requests per hour can be used to
describe the arrival pattern and that service times follow an exponential probability
distribution with a service rate of 12 requests per hour.
a. What is the probability that no requests for assistance are in the system?

m
= 1 – 10/12

er as
co
= 1 – 5/6

eH w
o.
= 1/6
rs e
ou urc
b. What is the average number of requests that will be waiting for service?
o

10/12-10 = 10/2 = 5 hours

aC s
vi y re

c. What is the average waiting time in minutes before service begins?

ed d

5x60 = 300 minutes

ar stu

d. What is the average time at the reference desk in minutes (waiting time plus service
is

time)?
Th

1/ 12-10 = ½ hour or 30 minutes

sh

e. What is the probability that a new arrival has to wait for service?

10/12 = 5/6

This study source was downloaded by 100000797521638 from CourseHero.com on 04-07-2021 20:18:23 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/11665297/QMB-5355/
 3
Running header: WEEK 11 WORK
11. Agan Interior Design provides home and office decorating assistance to its customers. In
normal operation, an average of 2.5 customers arrive each hour. One design consultant is
available to answer customer questions and make product recommendations. The
consultant averages 10 minutes with each customer.
a. Compute the operating characteristics of the customer waiting line, assuming Poisson
arrivals and exponential service times.
0.297 at 7.14 minutes

b. Service goals dictate that an arriving customer should not wait for service more than an

average of 5 minutes. Is this goal being met? If not, what action do you recommend?

No. Increase service rate or hire a second consultant.

m
er as
co
c. If the consultant can reduce the average time spent per customer to 8 minutes, what is

eH w
o.
the mean service rate? Will the service goal be met?
rs e
ou urc
7.5 customers/ hr , Lq =0.1677, Wq = 4 minutes. Yes, service goal will be met!
o
aC s
vi y re
ed d
ar stu
is
Th
sh

This study source was downloaded by 100000797521638 from CourseHero.com on 04-07-2021 20:18:23 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/11665297/QMB-5355/
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)