For the Project network shown, answer the Questions 1 and 2 based on the data provided.

A B E G J

D I

C F H K

Activity Expected time(weeks) Standard deviation

A 3 0.3
B 2 0.5
C 8 2.0
D 1 0.2
E 6 1.0
F 4 0.2
G 5 0.4
H 1 0.1
I 3 3.0
J 5 1.0
K 6 0.6

1. What is the critical path?

A) A-B-E-H-K
B) A-B-E-G-J
C) C-D-E-G-I-K
D) C-D-E-G-J
(Ans.: C)
Explanation:
A-B-E-H-K = 18
A-B-E-G-J = 21
C-D-E-G-I-K = 29
C-D-E-G-J = 25
Hence C-D-E-G-I-K is the correct answer.

2. What is the probability of meeting a desired 26 weeks completion time?

A) 0.2159
B) 0.2060
C) 0.2476
D) 0.1867
(Ans.: A)
Explanation: P(X<26) = P(Z<(26-29)/3.8158) = 0.2159.
X is normally distributed with mean = 29
Standard deviation = [22+.22+12+.42+32+.62]1/2 = 3.8158
 3. Consider the following project network. Determine the critical path and the project duration.

A) The critical path is A–C–F–H–J with a completion time of 28 days

B) The critical path is A–C–F–H–J with a completion time of 27 days
C) The critical path is A–B–E–G–J with a completion time of 28 days
D) The critical path is A–B–D–G–J with a completion time of 27 days
(Ans.: B)
Explanation: A–C–F–H–J with a completion time of 27 days as calculated by adding the time required
to traverse the path.
 4. The artificial activity which indicates that an activity following it, cannot be started unless the
preceding activity is complete, is known as:
A) Free float
B) Event
C) Dummy
D) Constant
(Ans.: C)
Explanation: Dummy activities are a useful tool to implement when the specific logical relationship
between two particular activities on the arrow diagramming method cannot specifically be linked or
conceptualized through simple use of arrows going from one activity to another. The time taken for
the dummy activities is zero.
 5. Pick up the incorrect statement from the following:
A) The activity which consumes maximum time, is called a node
B) The activity is the time consuming part of a project
C) The beginning and end of a job, are called events
D) Logically and sequentially connected activities and events form a network
(Ans.: A)
 6. The time by which activity completion time can be delayed without affecting the start of
succeeding activities, is known as:
A) Interfering float.
B) Total float
C) Duration
D) Free float
(Ans.: D)
 7. In a PERT network, the earliest (activity) start time is the
A) Earliest time that an activity can be finished without delaying the entire project.
B) Latest time that an activity can be started without delaying the entire project.
C) Earliest time that an activity can start without violation of precedence requirements.
D) Latest time that an activity can be finished without delaying the entire project.
(Ans.: C)
 8. Which of the following is one of the assumptions of PERT?
A) Total project completion time follows a normal probability distribution.
B) Activity times are dependent and correlated.
C) Project completion time follows a skewed chi-square distribution.
D) Activity times are known with certainty.
(Ans.: A)
 9. How many number of dummies are required, at least, to draw the activity network whose data
is provided in the table given below:
Activity Must be Preceded by
A -
B -
C B
D A, C
E A
F E
G E
H G
I D, F
J G, I
K G, I
L H, K

A. Zero
B. One
C. Two
D. Three
(Ans.: C)
Explanation: Activity D depends on activities A and C, whereas activity E depends only on activity A.
First Dummy is placed here.
Activity J depends on activities G and I, whereas activity H depends only on activity G. This shows
that the second dummy is placed here.
Answer questions 10 – 13 of the engineering project modelled by the activity network as shown
below. The activities are represented by the arcs. The number in brackets on each arc gives the time,
in days, to complete the activity. Each activity requires one worker. The project is to be completed in
the shortest time.

10. What is the early time and the late time for event 9?
A. 54, 54
B. 45, 45
C. 39, 42
D. 33, 33
(Ans.: A)
Explanation:

11. What is/are the critical path?

A. A-C-G-I-M
B. B-D-H-L-N
C. A-C-H-K
D. Both A and C
(Ans.: D)
Explanation: There are 2 critical paths: A-C-G-I-M and A-C-H-K, having length of 54.

12. What is the total float on activity D?

A. Zero
B. One
C. Two
D. Three
(Ans.: C)
Explanation: Total float on D is 21-5-14 = 2

13. What is the total float on activity F?

A. Seven
B. Eight
C. Nine
D. Ten
(Ans.: B)
Explanation: Total float on F is 42-20-14 = 8

Answer questions 14 – 17 based on a project that is modelled by the activity network shown below.
The activities are represented by the arcs. The number in the brackets on each arc gives the time, in
hours, to complete the activity. The number in circles is the event numbers. Each activity requires one
worker.

14. Calculate the early time and the late time for the event 9?
A. 31 and 31
B. 22 and 32
C. 38 and 38
D. 22 and 22
(Ans.: A)
Explanation:

15. What is the total float on activity D?

A. Two
B. Three
C. Four
D. Five
(Ans.: D)
Explanation: Total float on D is 20-7-8 = 5

16. What is the total float on activity F?

A. 14
B. 15
C. 16
D. 17
(Ans.: C)
Explanation: Total float on F is 29-5-8 = 16

17. How many critical paths are present in the network?

A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
(Ans.: B)
Explanation: Critical paths are: C-E-H-J-M and C-E-K-M, having lengths of 38

Answer questions 18 – 21 based on the network as shown below. The network shows the activities
that need to be undertaken to complete a project. Each activity is represented by an arc. The number
in brackets is the duration of the activity in days. The early and late event times are to be shown at
each vertex and some have been calculated for you.

18. What is the early and late time of event 4?

A. 9 and 10
B. 10 and 11
C. 11 and 12
D. 12 and 13
(Ans.: C)

19. What is the early and late time of event 5?

A. 13 and 13
B. 14 and 14
C. 15 and 15
D. 16 and 16
(Ans.: B)

20. What is the early time of event 6?

A. 13
B. 14
C. 15
D. 16
(Ans.: B)
Explanation for 18, 19 and 20:
 21. What is/are the critical paths?
A. A-E-H-K
B. A-E-L
C. C-G-L
D. Both A and B
(Ans.: D)
Explanation: Critical paths having lengths 30 are A-E-H-K and A-E-L. Dummy paths do not take any
time i.e. zero

22. An important assumption in PERT calculations is:

A. Activity times are normally distributed.
B. Activity times are independent.
C. A and B
D. A and C
(Ans.: B)

23. Which is/are features of PERT/CPM?

A. An estimate of how long a project will take.
B. A graphical display of project activities.
C. An indication of critical activities.
D. All the above
(Ans.: D)

24. PERT and CPM differ in that

 A. PERT uses dummy activities, and CPM does not.
B. PERT uses three time estimates and CPM use a single time estimate.
C. PERT does not allow us to monitor costs, and CPM does.
D. PERT uses AOA networks, and CPM uses AON networks.
(Ans.: B)

25. In PERT, slack time equals

A. EST + t
B. LST - EST
C. Zero
D. EFT – EST
(Ans.: B)