A Graduate Research Assistant "Moonlights" at the Short Order Counter

question 24

Essay

A graduate research assistant "moonlights" at the short order counter in the student union snack bar in the evenings. He is considering asking for help taking orders, but needs to convince the management that they should hire another student. Because he is taking a simulation class, he thinks it may be the perfect way to convince management to hire more help if he can show that customers have to wait a long time. When a customer arrives, he takes their order and their payment, prepares the food, gives it to the customer, and then takes the order from the next person in line. If someone arrives while he's cooking an order, they have to wait until he's completed the current order. He is working on the simulation and a portion is shown below.
-Complete the table below and determine the average customer wait time.
$$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | c | c | c | } \hline \begin{array} { c } \text { Customer } \\\text { Number }\end{array} & \begin{array} { c } \text { Time of } \\\text { Arrival }\end{array} & \begin{array} { c } \text { Time } \\\text { Order } \\\text { Taken }\end{array} & \begin{array} { c } \text { Order } \\\text { Prep } \\\text { Time }\end{array} & \begin{array} { c } \text { Customer } \\\text { Receives } \\\text { Food }\end{array} & \begin{array} { c } \text { Customer } \\\text { Wait } \\\text { Time }\end{array} \\\hline 1 & 2 & 2 & 4 & 6 & 0 \\\hline 2 & 14 & 14 & 7 & & \\\hline 3 & 19 & & 6 & & \\\hline 4 & 28 & & 8 & & \\\hline 5 & 33 & & 4 & & \\\hline\end{array}$$

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Definitions:

Intracellular Shells

Membrane-bound organelles within a cell that compartmentalize cellular processes and substances.

Interlocking Plates

Structural elements that fit together closely to provide support and resistance, often found in natural armor or engineering designs.

Dinoflagellates

Single-celled, mostly marine organisms with two flagella, often producing bioluminescence and sometimes forming toxic algal blooms.

Green Algae

Green algae are a diverse group of photosynthetic organisms found in various aquatic environments, and they are considered important for ecological balance and oxygen production.