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Mat540

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1.Identify the part of setting up a simulation in Excel that you find to be the most challenging, and explain why. Identify resources that can help you with that.

Using Excel in general is very difficult for me. From manipulating and navigating the ribbons to inserting graphs, pictures, and formulas. According to our textbook, a simulation is the replication “of a real system with a mathematical model that can be analyzed with a computer” (Taylor, p. 805, 2010). The part of setting up a simulation in Excel that I find to be the most challenging is the entire idea of using simulation in Excel. However, there are many resources available that can help me you these challenges. One of the biggest resource available is the World Wide Web. Others helpful resources are my textbook, supplemental instructions within the course shell, tutor, and instructor made available by Strayer University.

2. How do we use pseudorandom numbers in a simulation? How do pseudorandom numbers affect the accuracy of a simulation?

Pseudorandom numbers random numbers generated by a mathematical process instead of a physical process. In other words, pseudorandom numbers is a process that appears to be random but is not. The way pseudorandom numbers are use in a simulation is by artificially creating random numbers which are uniformly distributed, the technique should be efficient, and do not reflect any pattern (Taylor, p. 634, 2010). Pseudorandom numbers are also used in, probability and statistics applications large quantities of random numbers are needed. Pseudorandom numbers could affect the subsequent frequencies and greatly alter the accuracy of simulation.

3. What is the role of statistical analysis in simulation? The purpose of statistical analysis in simulation is to determine the probable behavior of a simulation and differentiate it from improbable behavior of a system. In other words, we want to distinguish what happens commonly from what simply happens coincidental.

Taylor, B. M. (2010). Introduction to management science (10th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.

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