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A

Section A: Long Answer Questions

Attempt all / any as specified.

4 questions
1long12 marks

(a) Define a system and explain the components of a system (entities, attributes, activities, state and events) with suitable examples. (6)

(b) Distinguish between a physical model and a mathematical model. With the help of a flowchart, explain the steps involved in a typical simulation study. (6)

system-and-model-conceptstypes-of-simulation
2long12 marks

Consider a single-server queuing system (M/M/1) where customers arrive at a counter. The inter-arrival times and service times for the first 6 customers are given below (all in minutes):

CustomerInter-arrival timeService time
104
232
355
421
563
642

(a) Prepare a simulation table showing arrival time, service-begin time, waiting time in queue, service-end time and time the customer spends in the system. (8)

(b) From your table, compute the average waiting time in the queue, the average time a customer spends in the system, and the server utilization. (4)

discrete-event-simulationqueuing-models
3long12 marks

(a) Explain the Linear Congruential Method (LCM) for generating pseudo-random numbers. State the conditions (Hull-Dobell theorem) under which an LCM achieves a full period. (5)

(b) Using the multiplicative congruential generator X(n+1) = (17 X(n)) mod 100 with seed X(0) = 27, generate the first five random numbers and the corresponding U(0,1) values. (3)

(c) Describe the inverse-transform technique and use it to derive a procedure for generating random variates from an exponential distribution with mean 1/lambda. (4)

random-number-generationrandom-variate-generation
4long12 marks

(a) Differentiate between verification and validation of a simulation model. Describe at least three techniques used for verifying a simulation model. (7)

(b) Compare general-purpose programming languages with special-purpose simulation languages (such as GPSS / SIMSCRIPT) for building simulation models, listing the advantages and disadvantages of each. (5)

verification-and-validationsimulation-languages-and-tools
B

Section B: Short Answer Questions

Attempt all / any as specified.

7 questions
5short8 marks

Apply the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test to the following sequence of random numbers to test for uniformity at the 0.05 level of significance (critical value D = 0.565 for n = 5): 0.44, 0.81, 0.14, 0.05, 0.93.

random-number-generation
6short8 marks

For an M/M/1 queue with arrival rate lambda = 8 customers per hour and service rate mu = 10 customers per hour, calculate: (a) the server utilization, (b) the average number of customers in the system (L), (c) the average number in the queue (Lq), and (d) the average time a customer spends in the system (W).

queuing-models
7short8 marks

(a) Explain the acceptance-rejection technique for generating random variates. (4)

(b) Describe how the convolution method can be used to generate an Erlang random variate. (4)

random-variate-generation
8short8 marks

Explain the autocorrelation test and the runs test (test for independence) used to evaluate a sequence of random numbers. What property of the random numbers does each test check?

random-number-generation
9short8 marks

Describe the event-scheduling / time-advance algorithm used in discrete-event simulation. Explain the role of the future event list (FEL) and the system clock with the help of a diagram.

discrete-event-simulation
10short8 marks

(a) Differentiate between continuous and discrete simulation, and between deterministic and stochastic simulation, with one example of each. (4)

(b) Explain the Monte Carlo simulation technique and describe one practical application where it is used. (4)

types-of-simulation
11short8 marks

Write short notes on any TWO of the following:

(a) Steps in building a simulation model

(b) Calibration and validation of models

(c) Advantages and disadvantages of simulation

system-and-model-conceptsverification-and-validation