A Social Security Administration branch is considering

the following two options for processing applications for

social security cards:

Option 1 Three clerks process applications in parallel from

a single queue. Each clerk fills out the form for the application in the presence of the applicant. Processing time is

exponential with a mean of 15 minutes. Interarrival times

are exponential.

Option 2 Each applicant first fills out an application without the clerk$$s help. The time to accomplish this is exponentially distributed, with a mean of 65$\mathrm{<br>}$ minutes. When the

applicant has filled out the form, he or she joins a single line

to wait for one of the three clerks to check the form. It takes

a clerk an average of 4$\mathrm{<br>}$ minutes ($($exponentially distributed)$)$

to review an application.

The interarrival time of applicants is exponential, and an

average of 4.8$\mathrm{<br>}$ applicants arrive each hour. Which option

will get applicants out of the office more quickly?