A major traffic problem in the Greater Cincinnati area involves
traffic attempting to cross the Ohio River from Cincinnati to
Kentucky using Interstate 75. Let us assume that the probability of
no traffic delay in one period, given no traffic delay in the
preceding period, is 0.85 and that the probability of finding a
traffic delay in one period, given a delay in the preceding period,
is 0.65. Traffic is classified as having either a delay or a
no-delay state, and the period considered is 30 minutes.
- Assume that you are a motorist entering the traffic system and
receive a radio report of a traffic delay. What is the probability
that for the next 60 minutes (two time periods) the system will be
in the delay state? Note that this result is the probability of
being in the delay state for two consecutive periods. If required,
round your answer to three decimal places.
- What is the probability that in the long run the traffic will
not be in the delay state? If required, round your answers to three
decimal places.
- An important assumption of the Markov process model presented
here has been the constant or stationary transition probabilities
as the system operates in the future. Do you believe this
assumption should be questioned for this traffic problem?
Explain.
The input in the box below will not be graded, but may be reviewed
and considered by your instructor.