1. What is Waiting Time?

Waiting Time (WT) is the duration between when a process or service is requested (Arrival Time) and when it actually begins (Start Time). It's a key metric in queueing theory and performance analysis.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple waiting time formula:

Where:

• \( WT \) — Waiting Time (time units)
• \( Start \) — Time when service/process begins
• \( Arrival \) — Time when request was made

Explanation: The formula calculates the difference between when something starts and when it was requested to determine how long the request waited.

3. Importance of Waiting Time Calculation

Details: Calculating waiting times helps in performance evaluation, resource allocation, and service quality assessment across various industries like healthcare, computing, and customer service.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both start and arrival times in the same units (seconds, minutes, hours, etc.). Ensure arrival time isn't greater than start time.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What if arrival time is after start time?
A: This would result in negative waiting time, which typically indicates an error in measurement or that the request was processed immediately.

Q2: What are typical waiting time units?
A: Units depend on context - milliseconds for computer processes, minutes/hours for customer service, days for medical appointments.

Q3: How does this relate to queueing theory?
A: Waiting time is a fundamental metric in queueing systems, often analyzed alongside service time and queue length.

Q4: What factors affect waiting times?
A: Service rate, arrival rate, number of servers, and scheduling policies all influence waiting times.

Q5: How can waiting times be reduced?
A: Through increased resources, better scheduling, improved efficiency, or demand management strategies.