Date of Award
12-1993
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Department of Operational Sciences
First Advisor
Paul F. Auclair, PhD
Second Advisor
David R. Barr, PhD
Abstract
Ranking and selection procedures are statistical methods used to compare and choose the best among a group of similar statistically distributed populations. The two predominant approaches to solving ranking and selection problems are Guptas subset selection formulation and Bechhofers indifference- zone formulation. For the indifference-zone formulation where the populations have equal sample sizes, Barr and Rizvi developed an integral expression of the probability of correct selection PCS. Given appropriate parameters, the integral expression can be solved to determine the common sample size required to attain a desired PCS. Tables with selected solutions to the integral expression are available for a variety of population distributions. These tables, however, are not included in any single reference, sometimes require interpolation, and only provide approximate results for the case of unequal sample sizes. Using a computer software program to solve the integral expression for the unknown parameters can eliminate these burdens. This paper describes the computer software developed to solve the integral expression of the indifference-zone formulation for normally distributed populations having either equal or unequal sample sizes, The software was written in QuickBASIC and Mathematica. The QuickBASIC code is a menu-driven interface that develops input files for Mathematica. Mathematica is the mathematical software package which performs the computationally intensive calculations required to solve the integral expressions.
AFIT Designator
AFIT-GSO-ENS-ENC-93D-12
DTIC Accession Number
ADA273821
Recommended Citation
Poston, Catherine A., "Solving the Ranking and Selection Indifference-Zone Formulation for Normal Distributions Using Computer Software" (1993). Theses and Dissertations. 6791.
https://scholar.afit.edu/etd/6791
Comments
The author's Vita page is omitted.