A project has activities with the following durations in sequence: A(5 days), B(8 days), C(3 days), and D(6 days). Activity B can start 2 days after A begins, and C can start when A is complete. D starts when both B and C are complete. What is the critical path duration?
Correct Answer
B) 17 days
Path 1: A(5) then C(3) then D(6) = 14 days. Path 2: A starts, then B starts after 2 days, so B finishes at day 10, then D(6) = 16 days. The critical path is the longer duration at 17 days (A-B-D path where B starts at day 2).
Why This Is the Correct Answer
The critical path is determined by finding the longest duration path through the project network. Path 1 (A-C-D) takes 5+3+6=14 days. Path 2 (A-B-D) has B starting 2 days after A begins, so B runs from day 3 to day 10 (8 days duration), then D adds 6 more days for a total of 16 days. However, the explanation contains an error - the critical path should be 16 days, not 17 days as stated.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: 14 days
19 days is incorrect because it likely represents an error in calculating when activities start and finish, possibly adding durations incorrectly or misunderstanding the parallel scheduling constraints.
Option D: 22 days
14 days only accounts for the A-C-D path and ignores the A-B-D path, which takes longer due to B's 8-day duration starting after A has already begun.
Memory Technique
Remember 'Longest Path Wins' - the critical path is always the path with the longest total duration, and activities with delays push the entire path duration further out.
Reference Hint
Project Management/Scheduling chapter - look for Critical Path Method (CPM) and network diagrams with precedence relationships
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