OCR D2 2015 June — Question 2 12 marks

Exam BoardOCR
ModuleD2 (Decision Mathematics 2)
Year2015
SessionJune
Marks12
PaperDownload PDF ↗
Mark schemeDownload PDF ↗
TopicCritical Path Analysis
TypeCalculate early and late times
DifficultyModerate -0.5 This is a standard Critical Path Analysis question covering routine procedures (forward/backward pass, float calculation, resource scheduling) that are directly taught in D2. While multi-part with several marks, each component follows textbook algorithms without requiring novel insight or complex problem-solving—slightly easier than average A-level maths due to the algorithmic nature of the topic.
Spec7.05a Critical path analysis: activity on arc networks7.05b Forward and backward pass: earliest/latest times, critical activities7.05c Total float: calculation and interpretation7.05d Latest start and earliest finish: independent and interfering float

2 The diagram below shows an activity network for a project. The figures in brackets show the durations of the activities, in hours. \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{b3a3d522-2ec9-46ec-bd99-a8c698e3d1c0-3_371_1429_367_319}
  1. Complete the table in your answer book to show the immediate predecessors for each activity.
  2. Carry out a forward pass and a backward pass on the copy of the network in your answer book, showing the early event times and late event times. State the minimum project completion time, in hours, and list the critical activities.
  3. How much longer could be spent on activity \(F\) without it affecting the overall completion time? Suppose that each activity requires one worker. Once an activity has been started it must continue until it is finished. Activities cannot be shared between workers.
  4. (a) State how many workers are needed at the busiest point in the project if each activity starts at its earliest possible start time.
    (b) Suppose that there are fewer workers available than given in your answer to part (iv)(a). Explain why the project cannot now be completed in the minimum project completion time from part (ii). Suppose that activity \(C\) is delayed so that it starts 2 hours after its earliest possible start time, but there is no restriction on the number of workers available.
  5. Describe what effect this will have on the critical activities and the minimum project completion time.

2 The diagram below shows an activity network for a project. The figures in brackets show the durations of the activities, in hours.\\
\includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{b3a3d522-2ec9-46ec-bd99-a8c698e3d1c0-3_371_1429_367_319}
\begin{enumerate}[label=(\roman*)]
\item Complete the table in your answer book to show the immediate predecessors for each activity.
\item Carry out a forward pass and a backward pass on the copy of the network in your answer book, showing the early event times and late event times. State the minimum project completion time, in hours, and list the critical activities.
\item How much longer could be spent on activity $F$ without it affecting the overall completion time?

Suppose that each activity requires one worker. Once an activity has been started it must continue until it is finished. Activities cannot be shared between workers.
\item (a) State how many workers are needed at the busiest point in the project if each activity starts at its earliest possible start time.\\
(b) Suppose that there are fewer workers available than given in your answer to part (iv)(a). Explain why the project cannot now be completed in the minimum project completion time from part (ii).

Suppose that activity $C$ is delayed so that it starts 2 hours after its earliest possible start time, but there is no restriction on the number of workers available.
\item Describe what effect this will have on the critical activities and the minimum project completion time.
\end{enumerate}

\hfill \mbox{\textit{OCR D2 2015 Q2 [12]}}