CritiCall Dispatcher Test Basic Math 2 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: A unit is traveling at 60 mph and needs to reach an incident 3 miles away. Approximately how many minutes will it take?

1 minute
3 minutes (Correct answer)
5 minutes
10 minutes

Correct answer: 3 minutes

At 60 mph, a vehicle travels 1 mile per minute. 3 miles ÷ 1 mile/min = 3 minutes.

60 mph = 60 miles per 60 minutes = 1 mile per minute. Therefore, 3 miles takes 3 minutes. Dispatchers use this quick calculation to estimate ETAs for callers and to coordinate unit positioning. At 30 mph, it would take 6 minutes; at 90 mph, 2 minutes. This formula is a staple of dispatcher math.

Question 2: A call came in at 14:37 and units arrived at 14:52. What was the response time in minutes?

10 minutes
12 minutes
15 minutes (Correct answer)
17 minutes

Correct answer: 15 minutes

14:52 minus 14:37 = 15 minutes response time.

14:52 − 14:37: 52 − 37 = 15 minutes. Response time tracking is critical for performance reporting, ISO fire ratings, and quality assurance. Dispatchers must accurately log call times, dispatch times, and arrival times. Small errors in time logging compound into inaccurate performance statistics that affect department funding and certifications.

Question 3: A dispatcher needs to split 7 available units equally among 3 active sectors. How many units does each sector get, and how many are left over?

2 each, 1 left over (Correct answer)
3 each, no remainder
2 each, 0 left over
1 each, 4 left over

Correct answer: 2 each, 1 left over

7 ÷ 3 = 2 remainder 1. Each sector gets 2 units and 1 unit remains available for reallocation.

7 ÷ 3 = 2 with a remainder of 1. Each sector receives 2 units; the remaining unit can be held in reserve or assigned to the busiest sector. Dispatchers regularly make these allocation calculations to maintain balanced coverage across their service area, especially during peak demand periods.

Question 4: An address is reported as being between 400 and 500 block numbers. All block numbers on this street are even. Which of the following could be the correct address?

399
401
456 (Correct answer)
503

Correct answer: 456

456 is an even number between 400 and 500. It fits both the range and the even-only pattern.

Many U.S. streets alternate odd/even house numbers on opposite sides, or follow all-even or all-odd patterns within blocks. If the block uses even numbers between 400-500, valid addresses are 400, 402, 404...498, 500. 456 is even and within range. 401 is odd; 399 and 503 are out of range. Address arithmetic prevents misdirected responses.

Question 5: A 911 center receives an average of 240 calls per 8-hour shift. What is the average number of calls per hour?

20 calls/hour
30 calls/hour (Correct answer)
40 calls/hour
24 calls/hour

Correct answer: 30 calls/hour

240 calls ÷ 8 hours = 30 calls per hour.

240 ÷ 8 = 30. Dispatchers and supervisors use per-hour call rates to assess staffing needs, monitor workload, and identify peak periods. If call volume suddenly drops to 10/hr or spikes to 60/hr, it signals either a system issue or a mass incident. Understanding baseline rates is essential for situational awareness.

Question 6: A patrol zone covers 12 square miles and has 4 officers assigned. What is the average area each officer covers?

2 square miles
3 square miles (Correct answer)
4 square miles
6 square miles

Correct answer: 3 square miles

12 square miles ÷ 4 officers = 3 square miles per officer.

12 ÷ 4 = 3 square miles per officer. Dispatchers use zone coverage calculations to understand response time implications — an officer covering 3 sq miles has a smaller response radius than one covering 6 sq miles. When staffing drops, dispatchers must recalculate coverage to identify gaps and request additional resources if coverage falls below safe thresholds.

CritiCall Dispatcher Test Basic Math 2

A unit is traveling at 60 mph and needs to reach an incident 3 miles away.
Approximately how many minutes will it take?