What is Simulation?

Very broad term, set of problems/approaches
Generally, imitation of a system via computer
Involves a model — validity?
Don’t even aspire to analytic solution
– Don’t get exact results (bad)
– Allows for complex, realistic models (good)
Approximate answer to exact problem is better
than exact answer to approximate problem
Consistently ranked as most useful, powerful of
mathematical-modeling approaches
What is Simulation?