TSA Problem Solving Flashcards

A checkpoint processes 4 passengers per minute. If 120 passengers arrive at 6:00 AM and 60 more arrive each subsequent hour, how many total passengers are waiting at 7:00 AM before that hour's processing?

Answer: 60

In one hour the lane clears 240 passengers, so the initial 120 are gone and only the 60 new arrivals remain.

A bag is flagged if it contains a prohibited item OR weighs over 50 lbs. A bag weighs 48 lbs and contains no prohibited items. What action is correct?

Answer: Clear the bag

Neither condition is met, so the bag should be cleared.

Three lanes have wait times of 12, 8, and 15 minutes. A new passenger should be directed to which lane to minimize their wait?

Answer: The 8-minute lane

The shortest current wait time is 8 minutes, minimizing the passenger's delay.

If every 5th bag requires a secondary search and 200 bags pass through, how many secondary searches occur?

Answer: 40

200 divided by 5 equals 40 secondary searches.

A rule states: passengers with boarding passes marked 'SSSS' get additional screening. A passenger's pass shows 'SSSS'. What must happen?

Answer: Additional screening

The SSSS marking triggers mandatory additional screening.

A scanner needs recalibration after every 500 scans or 8 hours, whichever comes first. It has run 6 hours and completed 520 scans. Is recalibration needed?

Answer: Yes, the scan count was exceeded

Because 520 exceeds 500, the 'whichever comes first' rule requires recalibration now.

Two officers can clear a checkpoint backlog of 300 people in 30 minutes. How long would 3 officers take at the same per-officer rate?

Answer: 20 minutes

Three officers work at 1.5 times the rate, so the time falls to 30 divided by 1.5, or 20 minutes.