Final answer:
Total slack, also known as total float, is the amount of time a task can be delayed without affecting the project's completion date. The correct answer to the question is D. Slack.
Step-by-step explanation:
The answer to the student's question, 'Also known as total float, total ______ is the total amount of time that a task may be delayed without delaying the project end date' is D. Slack. Total slack, or total float, refers to the amount of time a task in a project schedule can be delayed without causing a delay to the project completion date. This concept is a key component of project management and critical path method.
When managing a project, calculating the total slack is important because it helps identify the tasks that have flexibility in scheduling. It is the sum of the time you could delay a task without affecting the project completion. For instance, if Task A can be delayed by five days without impacting the subsequent tasks or the final deadline, Task A has a total slack of five days.