ISYE6644 (Simulation) Midterm 1
Updated
What was the first use of a computer simulation? ---ANSWER--- Stan Ulam and Johnny
von Neumann in 1946 after world war 2. They used simulation in the context of the
development of the H bomb.
The simulated thermonuclear reactions actually, chain reactions.
What was the main development in the simulation field in the 1960s? ---ANSWER---
Industrial applications
-manufacturing
-queueing models
Who is William Gosset?
A) He invented the t distribution that is used ubiquitously in statistics.
B) He invented the s distribution that is used ubiquitously in statistics.
C) He invented tea.
D) He invented the word "ubiquitous".
,E) He is the brother of Louis Gossett Jr., best known for his fine acting in many films,
including An Officer and a Gentleman. ---ANSWER--- A) He invented the t distribution
that is used ubiquitously in statistics.
Who was Harry Markowitz? ---ANSWER--- He was one of the first guys to develop a
language called SIMSCRIPT. He also won a nobel prize for some of the work he did in
optimizing financial portfolios (portfolio theory).
What are some characteristics of simulation models? ---ANSWER--- 1. Discrete (vs.
continuous)
2. Stochastic (vs. deterministic)
3. Dynamic (vs. static)
What is simulation? ---ANSWER--- Simulation is the imitation of a real-world process of
system over time.
Simulation involves the generation of an artificial history to draw inferences concerning
the operating characteristics of the real system that is represented.
What is simulation good for? ---ANSWER--- 1. Describe / analyze real or conceptual
system behavior.
2. Ask "what if" questions.
, 3. Aid in system design and optimization
4. Can simulate almost anything
What are the reasons to simulate? ---ANSWER--- 1. Will the system accomplish its
goals?
2. Current system won't accomplish its goals, now what?
3. Need incremental improvement.
4. Create a specification or action plan
5. Solve a problem, like a bottleneck.
6. Resolve disputes
7. Sell an idea
What are the advantages of simulation? ---ANSWER--- 1. Can study models too
complicated for analytical / numerical treatment
2. Study detailed relations that might be lost in the analytical or numerical treatment
3. Use as a basis for experimental studies of systems
4. Use to check results and give credibility to conclusions obtained by other methods.
5. Reduce design blunders
6. Really nice demo method
7. (sometimes) very easy
What are the disadvantages of simulation? ---ANSWER--- 1. Sometimes not so easy
Updated
What was the first use of a computer simulation? ---ANSWER--- Stan Ulam and Johnny
von Neumann in 1946 after world war 2. They used simulation in the context of the
development of the H bomb.
The simulated thermonuclear reactions actually, chain reactions.
What was the main development in the simulation field in the 1960s? ---ANSWER---
Industrial applications
-manufacturing
-queueing models
Who is William Gosset?
A) He invented the t distribution that is used ubiquitously in statistics.
B) He invented the s distribution that is used ubiquitously in statistics.
C) He invented tea.
D) He invented the word "ubiquitous".
,E) He is the brother of Louis Gossett Jr., best known for his fine acting in many films,
including An Officer and a Gentleman. ---ANSWER--- A) He invented the t distribution
that is used ubiquitously in statistics.
Who was Harry Markowitz? ---ANSWER--- He was one of the first guys to develop a
language called SIMSCRIPT. He also won a nobel prize for some of the work he did in
optimizing financial portfolios (portfolio theory).
What are some characteristics of simulation models? ---ANSWER--- 1. Discrete (vs.
continuous)
2. Stochastic (vs. deterministic)
3. Dynamic (vs. static)
What is simulation? ---ANSWER--- Simulation is the imitation of a real-world process of
system over time.
Simulation involves the generation of an artificial history to draw inferences concerning
the operating characteristics of the real system that is represented.
What is simulation good for? ---ANSWER--- 1. Describe / analyze real or conceptual
system behavior.
2. Ask "what if" questions.
, 3. Aid in system design and optimization
4. Can simulate almost anything
What are the reasons to simulate? ---ANSWER--- 1. Will the system accomplish its
goals?
2. Current system won't accomplish its goals, now what?
3. Need incremental improvement.
4. Create a specification or action plan
5. Solve a problem, like a bottleneck.
6. Resolve disputes
7. Sell an idea
What are the advantages of simulation? ---ANSWER--- 1. Can study models too
complicated for analytical / numerical treatment
2. Study detailed relations that might be lost in the analytical or numerical treatment
3. Use as a basis for experimental studies of systems
4. Use to check results and give credibility to conclusions obtained by other methods.
5. Reduce design blunders
6. Really nice demo method
7. (sometimes) very easy
What are the disadvantages of simulation? ---ANSWER--- 1. Sometimes not so easy
