On Systems in Series, Systems in Parallel, and Reliability

A parallel system consists of k components c

1
, . . . , c
k
arranged in such
a way that the system works if and only if at least one of the k components
functions properly.
C
k
C
2
C
1
1 2
A series system consists of k components c
1
, . . . , c
k
arranged in such
a way that the system works if an only if all of the components function
properly.
C
k
C
2
C
1 1 2
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On Systems and Reliability (continued)
The system consisting of the AOL network and the phone line is an
example of a parallel system.
The reliability of a system is the probability that the system works.
For example, the reliability of the system consisting of the AOL network
and the phone line is .54.
We can also construct larger systems with sub-systems that are connected
in series and/or in parallel.
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Example: Parallel system with k mutually independent
components
Let c
1
, . . . , c
k
denote the k components in a parallel system. Assume the
k components operate independently, and P(c
j
works ) = p
j
. What is the
reliability of the system?
P( system works) = P( at least one component works)
= 1 P( all components fail )
= 1 P(c
1
fails and c
2
fails . . . and c
k
fails )
= 1
k

j=1
(1 p
j
).
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Example: System in series with k mutually independent
components
Let c
1
, . . . , c
k
denote the k components in a system. Assume the
k components are connected in series, operate independently, and
P(c
j
works ) = p
j
. What is the reliability of the system?
P( system works) = P( all components work)
=
k

j=1
p
j
.
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Reliability of Systems (continued)
Example 2.17:Each component in the system shown below is opearable with
probability 0.92 independently of other components. Calculate the reliability
of the system:
A B
C D
E
1. The upper link A-B works if
both A and B work. Thus we can
replace this link with a component
F that operates with probability
P(A B) = (0.92)
2
= 0.8464
2. The components D and
E connected in parallel can be
replaced by component G that
operates with probability
P(DE) = 1(10.92)
2
= 0.9936
F
C G
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Example 2.17 (continued)
3. The components C and G connected in series so can be replaced by a
component H that operates with probability
P(C G) = (0.92)(0.9936) = 0.9141
F
H
4. Lastly, the components F and H are in parallel so the reliability of the
system is
P(F H) = 1 (1 0.8424)(1 0.9141) = 0.9868
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