In the PERT chart for a project, what is the duration of the critical path?

• A. 12 weeks
• B. 14 weeks
• C. 16 weeks
• D. 18 weeks

Answer: (C)

In a PERT chart, the duration of the project is set by the longest sequence of dependent tasks from start to finish—the critical path. The total time along that path determines when the project will complete, and any delay on it pushes the finish out. For this chart, the longest path adds up to 16 weeks, so the critical path duration is 16 weeks. This path has zero slack, meaning there’s no room to delay without affecting the overall project end. The other paths are shorter and typically have some slack, so they don’t govern the project’s finish unless their slack is consumed.