Your project schedule shows that Activity X can start as early as day 15 and must finish no later than day 28. The activity duration is 8 days. What is the total float for this activity?
Correct Answer
B) 5 days
Total float = Late Finish - Early Finish = Late Finish - (Early Start + Duration) = 28 - (15 + 8) = 28 - 23 = 5 days of float.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Total float represents the amount of time an activity can be delayed without affecting the project completion date. The formula is Total Float = Late Finish - Early Finish, where Early Finish = Early Start + Duration. With an Early Start of day 15, duration of 8 days, and Late Finish of day 28, the calculation is 28 - (15 + 8) = 5 days. This means Activity X can be delayed up to 5 days without impacting the overall project schedule.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: 3 days
This answer of 3 days likely comes from incorrectly calculating Late Start - Early Start (28-8-15 = 5, but someone might have made an arithmetic error or used wrong values).
Option C: 8 days
This answer of 8 days incorrectly uses just the activity duration, which is not what float represents. Float is about schedule flexibility, not activity length.
Option D: 13 days
This answer of 13 days incorrectly calculates Late Finish - Early Start (28 - 15 = 13), which gives the total time window available but doesn't account for the actual activity duration.
Memory Technique
Remember 'FLEF' - Float = Late Finish minus Early Finish. Think 'How much FLEX time do I have after the activity naturally ends?'
Reference Hint
Look up Critical Path Method (CPM) and float calculations in project management or scheduling chapters of your contractor reference manual.
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