Question

Cite an example of a queue from everyday life.

Short answer

Question: Provide an example of a queue in everyday life and describe its characteristics. Answer: An example of a queue from everyday life is people waiting in line at the supermarket checkout. This queue has the following characteristics: 1) it is orderly and linear, as people stand in a straight line with their order remaining constant, 2) it operates on a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) basis, as the person who has been waiting the longest gets served next, and 3) it requires an available resource, the cashier, who can only serve one person at a time, causing others to wait in line until it is their turn.

Step-by-step solution

Select an example of a queue from everyday life

One example of a queue from everyday life can be people waiting in line at the supermarket checkout.

Explain why this example is a queue

In this example, people are waiting in an orderly line to pay for their items. They wait for their turn to be served, and when the cashier is available, the next person in line will go forward to pay for their items.

Describe the characteristics of this queue

This queue displays several characteristics: 1. Orderly and linear: People stand in a straight line, and the order of people doesn't change as they wait. 2. First-In-First-Out (FIFO): The person who has been waiting the longest (the first in line) will be served next, and new customers will join the line from the back. 3. An available resource: The cashier represents the resource that the customers are waiting for; only one person can be served at a time, so the others have to wait in line until it's their turn.

Provide a conclusion

Therefore, the example of people waiting in line at the supermarket checkout is a good representation of a queue in everyday life. It showcases the main characteristics of a queue (orderly and linear, first-in-first-out, and needing an available resource) and is a situation that most people can relate to and understand.