Earned-Value Analysis
Construction Engineering · FE Reference Handbook section
Core formulas for this FE topic
Definitions, applicability, units, assumptions and worked examples for each relation.
Worked exam-style examples
The four ways this section is written on the real exam — thoughts first, then equations, then substitution.
A construction engineering problem uses Crew productivity. Given production rate (P) = 7.0000 units/hr; duration (t) = 158.0 hr, determine the total quantity (Q) in units.
Given
Find
total quantity (Q), in units
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Crew productivity.
- Everything except Q is given, so isolate Q symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Construction Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that Q stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning Q = 1,106 units to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 2,212 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 553.0 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 1,217 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Construction Engineering → Earned-Value Analysis
A construction engineering problem uses Total cost from unit cost. Given unit cost (cu) = 361.0 $/unit; quantity (Q) = 7,601 units, determine the total cost (C) in $.
Given
unit cost (cu) = 361.0 $/unit
Find
total cost (C), in $
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Total cost from unit cost.
- Everything except C is given, so isolate C symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Construction Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: unit cost (cu) = 361.0 $/unit, quantity (Q) = 7,601 units.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C = 2,743,961 $ to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 5,487,922 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 1,371,981 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 3,018,357 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Construction Engineering → Earned-Value Analysis
A construction engineering problem uses Crew productivity. Given duration (t) = 84.0000 hr; total quantity (Q) = 2,936 units, determine the production rate (P) in units/hr.
Given
Find
production rate (P), in units/hr
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Crew productivity.
- Everything except P is given, so isolate P symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Construction Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that P stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning P = 34.9524 units/hr to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 69.9048 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 17.4762 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 38.4476 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Construction Engineering → Earned-Value Analysis
A construction engineering problem uses Total cost from unit cost. Given quantity (Q) = 840.0 units; total cost (C) = 334,007 $, determine the unit cost (cu) in $/unit.
Given
total cost (C) = 334,007 $
Find
unit cost (cu), in $/unit
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Total cost from unit cost.
- Everything except cu is given, so isolate cu symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Construction Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that cu stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: quantity (Q) = 840.0 units, total cost (C) = 334,007 $.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning cu = 397.6 $/unit to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 795.3 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 198.8 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 437.4 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Construction Engineering → Earned-Value Analysis
A construction engineering problem uses Crew productivity. Given production rate (P) = 85.0000 units/hr; total quantity (Q) = 1,251 units, determine the duration (t) in hr.
Given
Find
duration (t), in hr
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Crew productivity.
- Everything except t is given, so isolate t symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Construction Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that t stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: production rate (P) = 85.0000 units/hr, total quantity (Q) = 1,251 units.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning t = 14.7176 hr to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 29.4353 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 7.3588 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 16.1894 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Construction Engineering → Earned-Value Analysis
A construction engineering problem uses Total cost from unit cost. Given unit cost (cu) = 103.5 $/unit; total cost (C) = 324,332 $, determine the quantity (Q) in units.
Given
unit cost (cu) = 103.5 $/unit
total cost (C) = 324,332 $
Find
quantity (Q), in units
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Total cost from unit cost.
- Everything except Q is given, so isolate Q symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Construction Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that Q stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: unit cost (cu) = 103.5 $/unit, total cost (C) = 324,332 $.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning Q = 3,134 units to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 6,267 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 1,567 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 3,447 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Construction Engineering → Earned-Value Analysis
A construction engineering problem uses Crew productivity. Given production rate (P) = 91.0000 units/hr; duration (t) = 150.0 hr, determine the total quantity (Q) in units.
Given
Find
total quantity (Q), in units
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Crew productivity.
- Everything except Q is given, so isolate Q symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Construction Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that Q stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning Q = 13,650 units to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 27,300 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 6,825 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 15,015 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Construction Engineering → Earned-Value Analysis
A construction engineering problem uses Total cost from unit cost. Given unit cost (cu) = 441.5 $/unit; quantity (Q) = 8,747 units, determine the total cost (C) in $.
Given
unit cost (cu) = 441.5 $/unit
Find
total cost (C), in $
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Total cost from unit cost.
- Everything except C is given, so isolate C symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Construction Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: unit cost (cu) = 441.5 $/unit, quantity (Q) = 8,747 units.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C = 3,861,801 $ to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 7,723,601 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 1,930,900 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 4,247,981 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Construction Engineering → Earned-Value Analysis
A construction engineering problem uses Crew productivity. Given duration (t) = 19.0000 hr; total quantity (Q) = 4,744 units, determine the production rate (P) in units/hr.
Given
Find
production rate (P), in units/hr
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Crew productivity.
- Everything except P is given, so isolate P symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Construction Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that P stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning P = 249.7 units/hr to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 499.4 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 124.8 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 274.7 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Construction Engineering → Earned-Value Analysis
A construction engineering problem uses Total cost from unit cost. Given quantity (Q) = 9,864 units; total cost (C) = 425,980 $, determine the unit cost (cu) in $/unit.
Given
total cost (C) = 425,980 $
Find
unit cost (cu), in $/unit
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Total cost from unit cost.
- Everything except cu is given, so isolate cu symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Construction Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that cu stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: quantity (Q) = 9,864 units, total cost (C) = 425,980 $.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning cu = 43.1853 $/unit to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 86.3706 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 21.5927 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 47.5039 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Construction Engineering → Earned-Value Analysis