Question

How do you calculate float? What is the difference between free float and total float? Why is float important?

Answer 1

The float can be termed as time which can be delayed without delaying the scheduled time of the project it can be calculated by subtracting the early start date/time for activity with the late start date/time or early finish date/time with the late finish date/time.

slack = early start - late start or early finish - late finish.

the total amount of time an activity can be delayed from its early start date can be termed as the free float and free float is the total time that can be delayed without delaying the early start date of any successor activity so the total float is for the whole of the activities and free float is for the activity and its successor activity. the total float is for the whole of the project and free float is for the individual activities.

float is important to know how much time can be delayed in the activity without disturbing the scheduled date of completion which can help in carefully allocating the work and activities having float 0 can be termed as critical path activities.