Many PMP and CAPM candidates are not aware that lite knowledge of Basic Algebra can come in very handy on the test.
Some questions may supply you with the end-result of a formula, and expect you to work backwards using algebra to solve for the inputs.
Below is an EXAMPLE:
| TEST TIP! |
| “Balance the equation… to isolate the variable.” |
The example below shows how to solve for a variable, in this case: EAC.
1) First, balance the equation.
(In this example, by adding $300,000 to both sides of the equation)
2. Second, isolate the variable: EAC.
| EXAMPLE: (Practice Test Question) |
| Q. If the amount of money remaining to complete your project (Estimate To Complete, or ETC) is $700,000, and the amount of MONEY you have spent so far (Actual Cost, or AC) is $300,000, what is your revised forecast (Estimate At Completion, or EAC)? |
To solve, use the ETC formula:
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Plug in the ETC and AC into the ETC formula:
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And the trick (Algebra) is:Balance the equation to isolate EAC, by ADDING $300,000 to both sides:
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| –Note that this works of course for many formulas, not just EAC, and for other kinds of math, not just addition/subtraction as in this example. |
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