Problem
Hair Cuttery Studio at Lee Centre is run by three stylists, Lisa, Kim, and Jeannette, each capable of serving four customers per hour, on average. During busy periods of the day, when nine customers on average arrive per hour, all three stylists are on staff.
Task
a) If all customers wait in a common line for the next available stylist, how long would a customer wait in line, on average, before being served?
b) Suppose that each customer wants to be served by a specific stylist, 1/3 want Lisa, 1/3 want Kim, 1/3 want Jeannette. How long would a customer wait in line, on average, before being served?
During less busy periods of the day, when six customers on average arrive per hour, only Lisa and Kim are on staff.
c) If all customers wait in a common line for the next available stylist, how long would a customer wait in line, on average, before being served?
d) Suppose that each customer wants to be served by a specific stylist, 60 percent want Lisa and 40 percent want Kim. How long would a customer wait in line, on average, before being served by Lisa? By Kim? Overall?