The efficiency of computing the reliability of k-out-of-n systems

It is shown that the algorithm of R.S. Barlow and K.D. Heidtmann (ibid., vol.R-33, p.322-3, Oct. 1984) is more computationally efficient than those reported by S.P. Jain and K. Gopal (ibid., vol.R-34, p.144-6, June 1985) and S. Rai et al. (ibid., vol.R-36, p.261-5, June 1987). Efficiency is measured here by the number of multiplications.<
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