In CPM, what indicates a task is on the critical path?

In CPM, what indicates a task is on the critical path?

• A. Low duration.
• B. High cost.
• C. Zero total float.
• D. Highest resource requirement.

Answer: (C)

Zero total float is what marks a task as being on the critical path in CPM. In this method, you calculate the earliest and latest start and finish times for every task. Total float is the difference between late start and early start (or late finish and early finish). If that difference is zero, there’s no scheduling slack for that task, so any delay pushes the project finish date later. That’s why such tasks are on the critical path, and delays anywhere along this path directly affect the overall project duration. Tasks with positive total float have some wiggle room and are not on the critical path. Duration, cost, or resource intensity alone don’t determine criticality; a task can be long or expensive yet non-critical if it has slack.

Zero total float is what marks a task as being on the critical path in CPM. In this method, you calculate the earliest and latest start and finish times for every task. Total float is the difference between late start and early start (or late finish and early finish). If that difference is zero, there’s no scheduling slack for that task, so any delay pushes the project finish date later. That’s why such tasks are on the critical path, and delays anywhere along this path directly affect the overall project duration. Tasks with positive total float have some wiggle room and are not on the critical path. Duration, cost, or resource intensity alone don’t determine criticality; a task can be long or expensive yet non-critical if it has slack.