As the ratio of arrival rate to service rate is increased,which of the following is likely?
A)Customers move through the system in less time because utilization is increased
B)Customers move through the system more slowly because utilization is increased
C)Utilization is decreased because of the added strain on the system
D)The average number in the system decreases
E)None of the above

Question

As the ratio of arrival rate to service rate is increased,which of the following is likely?
A)Customers move through the system in less time because utilization is increased 
B)Customers move through the system more slowly because utilization is increased 
C)Utilization is decreased because of the added strain on the system 
D)The average number in the system decreases 
E)None of the above

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

As the ratio of arrival rate to service rate is increased, the utilization of the system increases, which means that the system is becoming more congested. This increased congestion causes customers to move through the system more slowly (i.e., the waiting time increases), which leads to a decrease in customer throughput. Therefore, option B is the best answer. Option A is incorrect because increased utilization leads to increased waiting time (i.e., slower customer flow), not faster. Option C is incorrect because added strain on the system would increase utilization, not decrease it. Option D is incorrect because the average number in the system would increase with increased utilization, not decrease.

As the Ratio of Arrival Rate to Service Rate Is