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Calculating Float
Activity Precedence Duration
Start 0
D Start 4
A Start 6
F D, A 7
E D 8
G F, E 5
B F 5
H G 7
C H 8
End C, B 0
1. What is the duration of the critical path?
A) 32
B) 33
C) 31
D) 35

2. What is the float of activity B?
A) 0
B) 16
C) 10
D) 15

3. What is the float of Activity F?
A) 0
B) 5
C) 13
D) 7
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NOTE: This examples uses the day 0 method for
the calculations. Starting the project on day 0 results
in easier math.
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Start End A B
C D E
F
G H
X
ES EF
LS LF
D
F
1. Precedence Diagram
2. Durations
3. Forward Pass (ES EF)
4. Critical Path
5. Float of Critical Path Activities
6. Backward Pass (LF LS)
Q A
1
2
3
1. Precedence Diagram
Calculating Float
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Start End A B
C D E
F
G H
X
ES EF
LS LF
D
F
1. Precedence Diagram
2. Durations
3. Forward Pass (ES EF)
4. Critical Path
5. Float of Critical Path Activities
6. Backward Pass (LF LS)
Q A
1
2
3
Calculating Float
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A B
C D E
F
G H
Start End
Q A
1
2
3
6 5
8 4 8
7
5 7
X
ES EF
LS LF
D
F
1. Precedence Diagram
2. Durations
3. Forward Pass (ES EF)
4. Critical Path
5. Float of Critical Path Activities
6. Backward Pass (LF LS)
Calculating Float
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A
0
B
C D
0
E
F
G H
Start End
X
ES EF
LF
D
F
1. Precedence Diagram
2. Durations
3. Forward Pass (ES EF)
4. Critical Path
5. Float of Critical Path Activities
6. Backward Pass (LF LS)
Q A
1
2
3
6 5
8 4 8
7
5 7
6
4
6 13
4 12
13 18
25 33 13 18 18 25
The latest Late Finish of the preceding activities determines Early Start
6
4
13
12
0 + 6 = 6
Calculating Float
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A
0 6
6
B
13 18
5
C
25 33
8
D
0 4
4
E
4 12
8
F
6 13
7
G
13 18
5
H
18 25
7
Start End
X
ES EF
LS LF
D
F
1. Precedence Diagram
2. Durations
3. Forward Pass (ES EF)
4. Critical Path
5. Float of Critical Path Activities
6. Backward Pass (LF LS)
Q A
1
2
3
The latest Early Finish of the preceding activities determines Critical Path
12
13 18
33
6
4
Calculating Float
B
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A
0 6
6
B
13 18
5
C
25 33
8
D
0 4
4
E
4 12
8
F
6 13
7
G
13 18
5
H
18 25
7
Start End
X
ES EF
LS LF
D
F
1. Precedence Diagram
2. Durations
3. Forward Pass (ES EF)
4. Critical Path
5. Float of Critical Path Activities
6. Backward Pass (LF LS)
Q A
1 B
2
3
0
0
0
0 0
Activities on the Critical Path have Zero Float
Calculating Float
A
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A
0 6
6
B
13 18
5
C
25 33
8
D
0 4
4
E
4 12
8
F
6 13
7
G
13 18
5
H
18 25
7
Start End
X
ES EF
LS LF
D
F
1. Precedence Diagram
2. Durations
3. Forward Pass (ES EF)
4. Critical Path
5. Float of Critical Path Activities
6. Backward Pass (LF LS)
Q A
1 B
2
3 A
0
0
0
0 0
0 6
25 33
6 13
13 18 18 25
Activities on the Critical Path have LS=ES and LF=EF
Calculating Float
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A
0 6
0 6
6
0
B
13 18
5
C
25 33
25 33
8
0
D
0 4
4
E
4 12
8
F
6 13
6 13
7
0
G
13 18
13 18
5
0
H
18 25
18 25
7
0
Start End
Q A
1 B
2
3 A
33 28
1 5 5 13
15
1 1
X
ES EF
LS LF
D
F
1. Precedence Diagram
2. Durations
3. Forward Pass (ES EF)
4. Critical Path
5. Float of Critical Path Activities
6. Backward Pass (LF LS)
The earliest Late Start of the following activities determines Late Finish
33 5 = 28
28 13 = 15
6
5
Calculating Float
D
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A
0 6
0 6
6
0
B
13 18
28 33
5
15
C
25 33
25 33
8
0
D
0 4
1 5
4
1
E
4 12
5 13
8
1
F
6 13
6 13
7
0
G
13 18
13 18
5
0
H
18 25
18 25
7
0
Start End
X
ES EF
LS LF
D
F
1. Precedence Diagram
2. Durations
3. Forward Pass (ES EF)
4. Critical Path
5. Float of Critical Path Activities
6. Backward Pass (LF LS)
Q A
1 B
2 D
3 A
Calculating Float
What else can we learn from this example?
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A
0 6
0 6
6
0
B
13 18
28 33
5
15
C
25 33
25 33
8
0
D
0 4
1 5
4
1
E
4 12
5 13
8
1
F
6 13
6 13
7
0
G
13 18
13 18
5
0
H
18 25
18 25
7
0
Start End
X
ES EF
LS LF
D
F
1. Precedence Diagram
2. Durations
3. Forward Pass (ES EF)
4. Critical Path
5. Float of Critical Path Activities
6. Backward Pass (LF LS)
Q A
1 B
2 D
3 A
1 1
Project has increased RISK because of a Near-Critical Path
Calculating Float