Final answer:
The Monte Carlo simulation is a powerful computer simulation method that uses random sampling to estimate mathematical functions and simulate complex systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
One type of simulation program made popular by the widespread use of personal computers is called the Monte Carlo simulation. This method uses random sampling and statistical modeling to estimate mathematical functions and simulate the operation of complex systems. The Monte Carlo simulation is particularly powerful because it can address mathematically complex, linear, or non-linear systems by using numerical techniques to solve problems and visualize complex relationships that exist within those systems. For example, in the modeling of ecosystems, supercomputers can run individual-based simulations that account for the behavior of individual organisms and their effects on the ecosystem, providing highly accurate predictions of ecosystem responses to disturbances.