In the previous two presidential elections in the United States, very long wait times have beenwitnessed at precincts (voting stations) in states that ultimately decided the election (Florida in 2000 and Ohio in 2004). In Cincinnati as well, some voters complained about the long lines in some precincts, with most complaints coming from precinct A. In 2004, the average number of voters arriving at Precinct A was of 35 per hour and the arrival of voters was random with inter-arrival times that had a coefficient of variation of 1 (CV_a=1). Cincinnati had deployed 1 voting machine in Precinct A. Suppose that each voter spent on average 100 seconds in the voting booth (this is the time needed to cast her/his vote using a voting machine), with a standard deviation of 120 seconds.

a. How long on average a voter had to wait in line precinct at A in 2004 before entering in a booth to cast her/his vote. Circle the closest answer.

i. 56 minutes

ii. 58 minutes

iii. 60 minutes

iv. 62 minutes

v. 71 minutes

vi. 75 minutes

vii. There is not sufficient information to answer the question

Given the long wait times for Precinct A, the city of Cincinnati considered alternative solutions to improve voting conditions. One of the proposed solutions is as follows.

Proposal 1: Deploy an additional voting machine in precinct A.

Assume that the voter turnout had similar characteristics in 2012 as in the previous 2004 election.

b. Under Proposal 1, how long on average would a voter have waited in line in precinct A in 2012 before casting her/his vote. Circle the closest answer.

i. 1 minute

ii. 5 minutes

iii. 6 minutes

iv. 10 minutes

v. 11 minutes

vi. There is not sufficient information to answer the question

c. Under Proposal 1, on average, at precinct A, what would be the ratio of the average number of people voting (at a booth) over the average number of people in the line (waiting). Circle the closest answer.

i. 0.4

ii. 1.4

iii. 2.4

iv. 3.4

v. 4.4

vi. 5.4

vii. There is not sufficient information to answer the question