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A Mathematical Study of Purchasing Airline Tickets

Smith, Heather

Abstract Details

, Master of Mathematical Sciences, Ohio State University, Mathematics.
We have sought to apply ideas from foraging theory to the purchase of airline tickets from competing websites in an online shopping environment. We explore how consumers might distribute themselves among websites and different tickets dependent on parameters such as price of ticket, number of stops, input rate of tickets into the site, and so on. To facilitate our exploration of consumer behavior, we have developed a system of difference equations and rules as to why consumers may prefer one website over another. By tuning parameters such as quality of a ticket and input rate of tickets, different distributions of consumers are observed. Based on these distributions, we seek to determine the best way - measured by the average quality of ticket purchased - for consumers to distribute themselves among websites and ticket types.
Yuan Lou (Advisor)
Ian Hamilton (Advisor)

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Smith, H. (n.d.). A Mathematical Study of Purchasing Airline Tickets [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1366235256

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Smith, Heather. A Mathematical Study of Purchasing Airline Tickets. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1366235256.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Smith, Heather. "A Mathematical Study of Purchasing Airline Tickets." Master's thesis, Ohio State University. Accessed MARCH 19, 2024. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1366235256

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)