Chapter 9: Managing Waiting Lines

Exercise 1:
A fast-food restaurant is interested in studying its arrival of customers. During the busy lunch period
they have observed an average of 20 customers arriving per hour Poisson distributed.
a) If a customer has just entered the store, what is the probability of another arrival in the next
10 minutes?
b) What is the probability of two customers arriving in a five-minute window?
Solution

Exercise 2: Car Wash

1
A local car wash operates two washing bays. During their peak evening hours, they've observed an
average of 8 cars arriving every 30 minutes, following a Poisson distribution.

a) If a car has just pulled into the queue, what is the probability of another car arriving in 5
minutes.
b) What is the probability that the car wash will have exactly 3 cars waiting in line 15 minutes
after this current car arrives?

Exercise 3: Local Bank

A local bank branch is analysing its customer service wait times. They know the average customer
requires 5 minutes with a loan officer (service time). Customers arrive at the bank following a Poisson
distribution with an average arrival rate of 12 customers per hour.

2
a) What is the probability that the next customer arriving at the bank will find no one waiting in
line?
b) If a customer arrives at the bank and sees 2 people already waiting, what is the probability
they will have to wait longer than 10 minutes for their turn?