Chapter 07S – Learning Curves
1. If the elapsed time for the task is short and the activity is somewhat routine, a modest
amount of improvement occurs during the first few repetitions.
2. When the task is fairly complex and has a longer duration, it will take a larger number of
repetitions before improvement is observed.
3. Negotiated purchasing results in lower unit costs for smaller quantities.
Chapter 07S – Learning Curves
4. Learning curves generally apply to situations in which there is a high degree of human
involvement and tasks are fairly repetitive.
5. Learning curves are mostly relevant for complex, new activities that have not been done
often.
6. According to learning curve theory, every doubling of total output will produce a constant
percentage decrease in time per unit.
Chapter 07S – Learning Curves
7. The decrease in time between the second and fourth units will be equal to the decrease in
time between the first and second units.
8. According to learning curve theory, for certain kinds of tasks the cost per unit decreases as
the number of repetitions increases.
9. According to learning curve theory, the time reduction per unit decreases (improves) as the
number of units increase.
Chapter 07S – Learning Curves
10. A learning percentage of 95% indicates greater learning than a percentage of 90%.
11. A learning curve for an overqualified worker is higher than an average worker.
12. An 80 percent learning curve means that with each doubling of repetitions there will be a
20 percent decrease in time per unit.
Chapter 07S – Learning Curves
13. For an 80% learning curve, if the first unit requires 10 hours, the second unit will require 8
hours and the third 6.4 hours.
14. If an 80% curve is appropriate for a task and the first unit takes ten hours, the average time
for the first two units would be eight hours.
15. If we have never made the first unit but only think we know how much the labor time will
be, we cannot draw a learning curve.
Chapter 07S – Learning Curves
16. The learning curve principal would apply to the number of students in a class – a class
twice as large will learn 80% faster.
17. The learning curve principle would apply to a baseball pitcher learning to throw a curve
ball.
18. The learning curve is a basic tool for mass production type activities because it can deal
with large volumes of output.
Chapter 07S – Learning Curves
19. Learning curves are used primarily for mass production applications.
20. A learning rate of 98% implies an exceptionally rapid rate of improvement.
21. A learning rate of 77% will produce relatively minor decreases in completion times of the
first few repetitions.
Chapter 07S – Learning Curves
22. One use of learning curves is for negotiated purchasing anticipating lower costs at the
vendor with increasing volumes.
23. A learning rate of 97% will produce minor decreases in completion times of the first few
repetitions.
24. The fact that human activities typically improve when they are done on a repetitive basis
is described by a/an:
Chapter 07S – Learning Curves
25. To which worker would learning curves be most applicable?
Chapter 07S – Learning Curves
26. Once production is underway and the learning curve effect is occurring, successive
changes made to the production process will cause the time per unit to:
Chapter 07S – Learning Curves
27. On a log-log graph, learning curves appear as:
28. Increasing volumes result in ___________ the learning curve.
Chapter 07S – Learning Curves
29. It took exactly 10 hours to perform the first kidney transplant on a 100 percent learning
curve. The second kidney transplant will take how many hours to perform?
30. A job is expected to have a 70 percent learning curve. The first unit has been completed in
20 hours. Accordingly, the second unit can be expected to take approximately how many
hours?
Chapter 07S – Learning Curves
31. A job with a 70 percent learning curve required 20 hours for the initial unit. The fourth
unit should require approximately how many hours?
32. How long would a job with a 70 percent learning curve and a time of 20 hours for the first
unit require (approximately, in hours) for the third unit?
Chapter 07S – Learning Curves
33. A job is expected to have a learning curve of 90 percent. The third unit required 16 hours.
The twelfth unit should take approximately how many hours?
34. A job has an 80 percent learning curve. The second unit required 12 hours to complete.
Approximately how many hours will be devoted to the first five units (including those already
completed)?
Chapter 07S – Learning Curves
35. A manager is trying to estimate the appropriate learning curve for a certain job. The
manager notes that the first four units had a total time of 30 minutes. Which learning curve
would yield approximately this result if the first unit took 10 minutes?
36. In which of the following managerial activities would learning curves probably be the
least useful?
Chapter 07S – Learning Curves
37. Which of the following is not a major caution or criticism of learning curves?
38. A job has a 70% learning curve. If the first unit took 10 hours to complete, the third unit
should take roughly how many hours?