Sometimes the effort data points on my Life Cycle Sensitivity to PI graph have values that do not always increase (or decrease); e.g., there are small dips in the data.

The 50% solution is based on the expected value (the solution with a 50% probability of achieving the same or better values for schedule, effort, cost, and reliability). Each of the inputs to an estimate - size, application complexity, and productivity - has some uncertainty associated with it. If any one of your input parameters (size, for instance) increases significantly from the original estimate, it makes sense that the actual outcome will vary from the estimated outcome.

When I change the Person Hours per Person Month field on the Accounting tab of the Solution Assumptions dialog, there is no change to the total schedule and effort for the project. Why is this?

Many SLIM-Estimate and SLIM-Control users have asked why their overall schedule does not change when they change the value of the "Person Hours per Person Month" field,  Solution Assumptions screen, Accounting Tab.

What is the purpose of the gearing factor?

Gearing factors are used to convert projects with many different sizing units (objects, modules, or use cases for example) back to a common sizing unit: the Basic Work Unit. The Basic Work Unit represents the smallest sizing unit that is common to all projects.