Question: A medical clinic manager is trying to decide how many X-ray machines to have to minimize average daily costs. The cost per day for a machine plus operator is $1100. It is estimated that the waiting costs (patients and staff) are $300 per day.

a. How many X-ray machines should the clinic have if there is an average of 3 requests for X-rays a day, and one machine can handle an average of 5 requests per day and both rates are Poisson?

b. How many X-ray machines should the clinic have if demand is forecasted to increase to an average of 5 requests for X-rays a day, and a one machine can handle an average of 5 requests per day and both rates are Poisson?