Students Arrive Randomly at the Help Desk of the Computer

question 87

Multiple Choice

Students arrive randomly at the help desk of the computer lab. There is only one service agent, and the time required for inquiry varies from student to student. Arrival rates have been found to follow the Poisson distribution, and the service times follow the negative exponential distribution. The average arrival rate is 12 students per hour, and the average service rate is 20 students per hour. How many students, on the average, will be waiting in line at any one time?

• A) 0.9 students
• B) 1.5 students
• C) 3 students
• D) 4 students
• E) 36 students

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Definitions:

White Men

Adult males of European descent, often referenced in discussions of racial, social, and political dynamics, especially in relation to privilege and power structures.

Tredegar Works

A historic iron works in Richmond, Virginia, significant for its role in manufacturing artillery and other materials for the Confederacy during the American Civil War.

Richmond

A city in Virginia known for its significant history, including roles in the Civil War and civil rights movement.

Confederate

Relating to the confederation of 11 southern US states that seceded from the Union leading to the American Civil War.