This text describes mathematical and numerical tools for modeling, analysis, and simulation of systems that evolve dynamically over time and whose behavior is uncertain, in applications areas such as hospital staffing and stock portfolio management. The text is designed to be read in sequence and contains more than enough material for a one semester course. At the core of the text's unified presentation is the discrete-event-sample-path perspective of stochastic processes. Simulations and simple but realistic case studies are used in the book to explain difficult concepts, and programming language-independent algorithms are provided for all simulation and numerical procedures. Chapter exercises are included. The text assumes background in linear algebra, calculus, computer programming, and introductory probability and statistics. Students should be familiar with independent and identically distributed random variables. Nelson teaches in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Science at Northwestern University. The book was first published in 1995. Annotation 2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
