4.1 Say that you are a manager with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The table shows fictional estimates of the marginal benefit and marginal cost of additional TSA security lines at Mahlon Sweet Field, the airport in Eugene, Oregon.

a. What is the surplus of benefit over cost for the second security line? For the third security line? If your goal is to maximize the total surplus, would you want to operate the third security line? Explain your answer.

b. What is the optimal number of TSA security lines? Relate this answer to your answer to part a.

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Number of Security Lines Marginal Benefit Marginal Cost 1 $15,000 $3,000 2 13,500 4,500 3 10,500 6,000 4 7,500 7,500 5 6,000 12,000 6 4,500 18,000