An anti-intrusion system is battery powered and is activated by pressing the only available button. To deactivate the system, the operator must enter a PIN code. The system will stay in alert mode within a configurable timeout and an alarm bell will ring if the system is not deactivated before the timeout expires.
The following state transition diagram describes the behavior of the system:

What is the minimum number of test cases needed to cover every unique sequence of exactly 4 states/3 transitions starting and ending in the "Inactive" state? (note that "Inactive" is not a final state in the diagram)
Correct Answer: C
In the given state transition diagram, we need to identify the minimum number of test cases required to cover every unique sequence of exactly 4 states/3 transitions starting and ending in the "Inactive" state.
The states are:
* Inactive
* Active
* Alert Mode
* Alarm bell rings
* Inactive -> Active -> Inactive -> Active -> Inactive
* Sequence: Press Button, Enter PIN, Press Button, Enter PIN
* Inactive -> Active -> Alert Mode -> Inactive
* Sequence: Press Button, Sensor Activated, Enter PIN
* Inactive -> Active -> Alert Mode -> Alarm bell rings -> Inactive
* Sequence: Press Button, Sensor Activated, Timeout expired, Press Button Test Case Analysis:These sequences cover every unique combination of exactly 4 states and 3 transitions starting and ending in the "Inactive" state.
References:
* ISTQB CTFL Syllabus Section 4.2 on state transition testing.