Decision tree question

malielin

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hi, I'm struggling with this decision tree question:

A part of an aircraft engine can be given a test before installation. The test has only a 75 % chance of revealing a defect if it is present, and the same chance of passing a sound (good) part. Whether or not the part has been tested it may undergo an expensive rework operation which is certain to produce a part free from defects. The cost of rework is £1000. If a defective part is installed in the engine the loss is £5000. Suppose 1 in 8 of parts are initially defective, and the cost of the test is £C.
(a) Draw the decision tree, evaluate all probabilities and determine, in terms of C, all the optimal decisions.
(b) How much should the manager be willing to pay for the test?


I know it's probably a simple question, and I understand the basics, but I'm having trouble processing the wording, and what I have so far doesn't feel like it's the right answer. I have attached what I have done so far(sorry it's messy, as it was rough work), if someone could give me some help as where I have gone wrong that would be great.
Thank you.
 

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You don't say what happens if the test reveals a defective part. Is that part discarded, and another selected? Does the entire assembly process just halt? What are the associated costs?
 
You don't say what happens if the test reveals a defective part. Is that part discarded, and another selected? Does the entire assembly process just halt? What are the associated costs?
That is the whole question, that’s all I have to work with. So, your guess is as good as mine.
I assume the test is mean tot just say what the part is(good/defective) and then the decision is up to the manager.
 
I'm going to look at it like this.

We get a part. We test it. If it passes, we use it. If not we rework it and use it.

That vs. no testing and we just use all parts we get.

Sound ok?
 
Here's the setup as I see it. See if you agree with this.

Clipboard01.jpg


and of course the no test situation is

Clipboard02.jpg

The idea is to come up with the test cost c that equates the expected overall cost of the process. If the test then costs less than c you are saving money on average. It should be pretty obvious that the expected cost of the process for the no test situation is

\(\displaystyle E[C_{total}] = \dfrac 1 8 \cdot 5000 = 625\)
 
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