ECE194 S’01 Introduction to Engineering Design Arizona State University 1 Modeling #6 - The Student’s Dilemma Begin with the end in mind  Constraints  Feasible/Infeasible Solutions

ECE194 S’01 Introduction to Engineering Design Arizona State University 2 Modeling #6 - The Student’s Dilemma Read the following problem statement:  You will be taking examinations in French and Calculus in 10 days’ time, but, instead of preparing for these examinations, you have been having much more fun learning to model on your computer.  Unfortunately, your advisor seems to be more interested in your academic performance than your intellectual development. You have just had a rather unpleasant meeting with her. She has told you, in no uncertain terms, what will happen to you if you fail to get a passing grade in either examination. In fact, you will need a marked improvement in your overall performance to keep out of trouble.

ECE194 S’01 Introduction to Engineering Design Arizona State University 3 Modeling #6 - The Student’s Dilemma  This meeting worries you. You have to admit that you are not prepared for the examinations. If you don’t make the best possible use of the time available, you could easily fail. What you need is some concentrated tutoring.  There is a language laboratory that has some excellent review tapes that would be ideal preparation for the French examination. The only problem is that it costs $5 per hour to use the laboratory.  Preparing for the calculus examination is going to be more difficult. Your friend recommends a good tutor, but demand has pushed up prices: The tutor charges $15 per hour.

ECE194 S’01 Introduction to Engineering Design Arizona State University 4 Modeling #6 - The Student’s Dilemma  Your budget will stretch to at most $100 for these extra activities.  You have always had attention span problems. You cannot imagine spending more than 8 hours at the tapes during the next 10 days. You could also not absorb more than 7 hours of calculus tutoring in 10 days. But that does not mean you are willing to spend a total of 15 hours on these activities. When you look at you social calendar for the next ten days, you find that, at most, you could squeeze in 11 hours of extra activity, either tutoring or time in the language laboratory, or a combination of the two.  What is the best way to spend your time and money?

ECE194 S’01 Introduction to Engineering Design Arizona State University 5 Modeling #6 - The Student’s Dilemma First task  Take 20 minutes to prepare a plan to solve this problem. First, make sure you understand the problem. Organize the information you have been given in a clear, unambiguous way. Define the objectives of the exercise.  Document your results

ECE194 S’01 Introduction to Engineering Design Arizona State University 6 Modeling #6 - The Student’s Dilemma Second task  Report initial results