Your project schedule shows Activity A has an Early Start of day 15, Duration of 8 days, and Late Finish of day 28. What is the total float for this activity?
Correct Answer
C) 5 days
Early Finish = Early Start + Duration = 15 + 8 = 23. Total Float = Late Finish - Early Finish = 28 - 23 = 5 days. This represents how many days the activity can be delayed without affecting the project completion.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Option B is correct because total float is calculated by finding the difference between Late Finish and Early Finish. First, we calculate Early Finish = Early Start + Duration = 15 + 8 = 23 days. Then, Total Float = Late Finish - Early Finish = 28 - 23 = 5 days. This means Activity A can be delayed by 5 days without impacting the overall project completion date.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: 0 days
Option A is incorrect because 0 days would indicate this is a critical path activity with no float, but our calculation shows 5 days of available float time.
Option B: 13 days
Option D is incorrect because 13 days appears to be the difference between Late Finish and Early Start (28-15=13), which is not the correct formula for total float.
Option D: 8 days
Option C is incorrect because 8 days is simply the duration of the activity, not the float calculation. Duration and float are completely different scheduling concepts.
Memory Technique
Remember 'FLED' - Float = Late finish minus Early finish Duration. The Early Finish always equals Early Start plus Duration first.
Reference Hint
Look up Critical Path Method (CPM) and float calculations in project management or scheduling chapters of construction management references
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