TSA TSA Problem Solving 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: 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?
- 60 (Correct answer)
- 0
- 120
- 180
Correct answer: 60
In one hour the lane clears 240 passengers, so the initial 120 are gone and only the 60 new arrivals remain.
Question 2: 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?
- Clear the bag (Correct answer)
- Flag for weight
- Flag for prohibited item
- Deny boarding
Correct answer: Clear the bag
Neither condition is met, so the bag should be cleared.
Question 3: Three lanes have wait times of 12, 8, and 15 minutes. A new passenger should be directed to which lane to minimize their wait?
- The 8-minute lane (Correct answer)
- The 12-minute lane
- The 15-minute lane
- Any lane equally
Correct answer: The 8-minute lane
The shortest current wait time is 8 minutes, minimizing the passenger's delay.
Question 4: If every 5th bag requires a secondary search and 200 bags pass through, how many secondary searches occur?
- 40 (Correct answer)
- 20
- 50
- 35
Correct answer: 40
200 divided by 5 equals 40 secondary searches.
Question 5: A rule states: passengers with boarding passes marked 'SSSS' get additional screening. A passenger's pass shows 'SSSS'. What must happen?
- Additional screening (Correct answer)
- Standard screening only
- Skip screening
- Escort to gate immediately
Correct answer: Additional screening
The SSSS marking triggers mandatory additional screening.
Question 6: 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?
- Yes, the scan count was exceeded (Correct answer)
- No, 8 hours has not passed
- No, it needs both conditions
- Yes, but only after 8 hours
Correct answer: Yes, the scan count was exceeded
Because 520 exceeds 500, the 'whichever comes first' rule requires recalibration now.
Question 7: 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?
- 20 minutes (Correct answer)
- 30 minutes
- 45 minutes
- 15 minutes
Correct 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.
TSA TSA Problem Solving 2
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?