MIS 499: Decision Support and Knowledge Management Systems

Simulation Exercise 1

March 22, 2004

For this exercise you will modify the coin tossing simulation (Coin_Toss.xls) to create a die rolling simulation.  Modify the Visual Basic for Application code so it simulates100 rolls of two, 6-sided die.  Modify the Excel spreadsheet to display the value of the rolls (2-12) and graph the frequency of those values.  Name the file Die_Roll.xls.  Answer the following questions:

1. Is the distribution the same with every run of the simulation?  Why or why not?
2. Does the distribution appear Normal? 
3. What is the expected frequency distribution?  How close does the simulation come to matching these values?
4. What would happen if you only rolled the die 10 times? 20 times? 1000 times?
5. The basis for this simulation is random number generation and graphical visualization. 

a) Describe one or more decision support applications that would have a similar basis. 

b) How hard would it be to extend this simple exercise to become the application(s) described above?