ISYE 6644 MIDTERM 1
EXAM (SIMULATION)
ACTUAL EXAM
• What are some characteristics of simulation models?
ANSWER 1. Discrete (vs. continuous)
• Stochastic (vs. deterministic)
• 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.
• Ask "what if" questions.
• Aid in system design and optimization
• Can simulate almost anything
• What are the reasons to simulate? ANSWER 1. Will the
system accomplish its goals?
• Current system won't accomplish its goals, now what?
• Need incremental improvement.
• Create a specification or action plan
,• Solve a problem, like a bottleneck.
• Resolve disputes
• Sell an idea
• What are the advantages of simulation? ANSWER 1.
Can study models too complicated for analytical / numerical
treatment
• Study detailed relations that might be lost in the analytical or
numerical treatment
• Use as a basis for experimental studies of systems
• Use to check results and give credibility to conclusions
obtained by other methods.
• Reduce design blunders
• Really nice demo method
• (sometimes) very easy
• What are the disadvantages of simulation? ANSWER 1.
Sometimes not so easy
, • Sometimes very time consuming / costly
• Simulations give "random" output (and lots of
misinterpretation of results is possible)
• To do a certain problem, better methods than simulation may
exist
• We are interested in modeling the arrival and service
process at the local McBurger Queen burger joint.
Customers come in every once in a while, stand in line,
eventually get served, and off they go. Generally speaking,
what kind of model are we talking about here? (More than
one answer below may be right.)
• Discrete
• Continuous
EXAM (SIMULATION)
ACTUAL EXAM
• What are some characteristics of simulation models?
ANSWER 1. Discrete (vs. continuous)
• Stochastic (vs. deterministic)
• 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.
• Ask "what if" questions.
• Aid in system design and optimization
• Can simulate almost anything
• What are the reasons to simulate? ANSWER 1. Will the
system accomplish its goals?
• Current system won't accomplish its goals, now what?
• Need incremental improvement.
• Create a specification or action plan
,• Solve a problem, like a bottleneck.
• Resolve disputes
• Sell an idea
• What are the advantages of simulation? ANSWER 1.
Can study models too complicated for analytical / numerical
treatment
• Study detailed relations that might be lost in the analytical or
numerical treatment
• Use as a basis for experimental studies of systems
• Use to check results and give credibility to conclusions
obtained by other methods.
• Reduce design blunders
• Really nice demo method
• (sometimes) very easy
• What are the disadvantages of simulation? ANSWER 1.
Sometimes not so easy
, • Sometimes very time consuming / costly
• Simulations give "random" output (and lots of
misinterpretation of results is possible)
• To do a certain problem, better methods than simulation may
exist
• We are interested in modeling the arrival and service
process at the local McBurger Queen burger joint.
Customers come in every once in a while, stand in line,
eventually get served, and off they go. Generally speaking,
what kind of model are we talking about here? (More than
one answer below may be right.)
• Discrete
• Continuous
