Insight Exam Module Questions

[Gloamglozer]

Can someone please help me with these two exam question from Insight 2008?  The matrix question is from Exam 1 and the networks question is from exam 2.

1.  With question 4, I thought the answer was B but the solutions say C.

2.  With question 3d (networks), how is the answer 14 weeks?  After the exam, by trial and error, I found you can get 14 weeks by reducing E by two weeks, which means you have to take path AEHI but that is not a critical path.

[ReVeL]

Didn't do Matrices so I'll have a go at the second one.

Ok, so intially:

Top path = 17 [starting critical path]
Middle path = 16
Bottom path = 14

Now we begin reducing activities on the critical path.

1] Reduce C by 1. [Now top = 16, middle = 16, bottom = 14]
2] Reduce C by 1. [Now top = 15, middle = 16, bottom = 14]
3] Reduce E by 1. [Now top = 15, middle = 15, bottom = 14]
4] Reduce E by 1. [Now top = 15, middle = 14, bottom = 14]
5] Reduce G by 1. [Now top = 14, middle = 14, bottom = 14]

We have now reached the stage where any further reducing of any activities will not reduce the total time taken, because no activity on the middle path [which is now equal to the critical path] can be reduced further. Thus, the minimum time is 14 weeks.

To answer these you've gotta reduce an activity by one then re-assess the critical paths then reduce another activity etc. etc. until you cannot any further.

Hope that helped.

[Gloamglozer]

Ah, I get it now.  Thanks Revel. 

Now I have to work out the matrix question.

[Hooligan]

Ah, I get it now.  Thanks Revel. 

Now I have to work out the matrix question.

Matrix question:

We know that Nathan starts at C, and so we look into the C column (present location) and we find that his next location will be A. We then go to the A column (present location) and we find that his next location will be B. We do this until we go through all the locations.... i.e after finding out our next location is B, we go to the B column, find the next location, which is E, then we go to the E column, we find that the next location will be D. We have now gone to all locations, therefore we can stop.

From above, we see that the pathway Nathan takes is: C-A-B-E-D. Hence, bringing us to the correct option, C. 

[Gloamglozer]

Thank you very much Hooligan.  I understand how to do these type of questions now.

[Hooligan]

Thank you very much Hooligan.  I understand how to do these type of questions now.

Anytime, Gloamglozer.