Which phenomenon describes ticket prices fluctuating without an obvious reason?

• A. Airfares
• B. Wow! Signal
• C. Kryptos
• D. Cicada 3301

Answer: (A)

Dynamic pricing explains why ticket prices move in real time as demand and available inventory change. Airlines manage seats with different fare classes, and as fewer seats remain in a given class, prices for those seats rise. Nearby departure dates, holidays, events, and competition also shape price changes, and sophisticated algorithms adjust fares based on forecasted demand and past buying patterns. Because these factors are not visible to everyday shoppers, prices can jump up or down seemingly without a clear cause when you check.

The other items are unrelated: a famous enigmatic radio signal from space, a sculpture with hidden encryptions, and a long-running online puzzle—none of which involve how ticket pricing works.