1. What is the Expected Time of Activity i-j?

The Expected Time of Activity i-j (tij) represents the duration between two events in a project network. It is calculated as the difference between the earliest occurrence time of event j (TEj) and the earliest occurrence time of event i (TEi).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( t_{ij} \) — Duration of activity i-j (Days)
• \( TE_j \) — Earliest Occurrence Time of event j (Days)
• \( TE_i \) — Earliest Occurrence Time of event i (Days)

Explanation: This formula calculates the expected time duration for an activity between two events in a project network by subtracting the earlier event time from the later event time.

3. Importance of Activity Duration Calculation

Details: Accurate activity duration calculation is crucial for project scheduling, critical path determination, resource allocation, and overall project management. It helps in identifying the timeline for project completion and managing dependencies between activities.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the earliest occurrence time for both events i and j in days. Ensure that TEj is greater than or equal to TEi to get a valid positive duration. All values must be non-negative numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What if TEj is less than TEi?
A: This would result in a negative duration, which is not physically possible for activity time. Please verify your input values as TEj should always be greater than or equal to TEi.

Q2: Can this calculator handle decimal values?
A: Yes, the calculator accepts decimal values for more precise calculations, which is useful for activities that may span partial days.

Q3: What units are used in this calculation?
A: The calculator uses days as the standard unit for time measurement, but you can adapt the results to other time units as needed for your specific project context.

Q4: How is this different from other project duration calculations?
A: This specific formula focuses on the time difference between two consecutive events in a network diagram, which is fundamental for critical path method (CPM) and program evaluation and review technique (PERT) analyses.

Q5: Can this be used for complex project networks?
A: Yes, this basic calculation forms the foundation for more complex project scheduling techniques. For complex networks, you would typically calculate multiple activity durations and then determine the critical path.