Skip to content

Indices

Construction Engineering · FE Reference Handbook section

Construction Engineering
2 formulas
10 exam-style examples
~49 min
All Construction Engineering lectures

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.

Example 1
Crew productivity — solve for total quantity — Indices

A construction engineering problem uses Crew productivity. Given production rate (P) = 9.0000 units/hr; duration (t) = 159.0 hr, determine the total quantity (Q) in units.

Given

  • productionrate(P)=9.0000units/hrproduction rate (P) = 9.0000 units/hr
  • duration(t)=159.0hrduration (t) = 159.0 hr

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

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    Q=P×tQ = P \times t
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that Q stands alone on the left-hand side.

  3. Step 3

    Listthegivens:productionrate(P)=9.0000units/hr,duration(t)=159.0hrList the givens: production rate (P) = 9.0000 units/hr, duration (t) = 159.0 hr
  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.

  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    Q=1431 unitsQ = 1431\ \text{units}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning Q = 1,431 units to

    Q=P×tQ = P \times t

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
Q=1431 unitsQ = 1431\ \text{units}

Why the other options are there

  • 2,862 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 715.5 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 1,574 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Construction Engineering → Indices

Example 2
Total cost from unit cost — solve for total cost — Indices (2)

A construction engineering problem uses Total cost from unit cost. Given unit cost (cu) = 123.5 $/unit; quantity (Q) = 7,247 units, determine the total cost (C) in $.

Given

  • unit cost (cu) = 123.5 $/unit

  • quantity(Q)=7,247unitsquantity (Q) = 7,247 units

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

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    C=cu×QC = c_u \times Q
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C stands alone on the left-hand side.

  3. Step 3 — List the givens: unit cost (cu) = 123.5 $/unit, quantity (Q) = 7,247 units.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.

  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    C=895005 $C = 895005\ \text{\$}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning C = 895,005 $ to

    C=cu×QC = c_u \times Q

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
C=895005 $C = 895005\ \text{\$}

Why the other options are there

  • 1,790,009 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 447,502 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 984,505 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Construction Engineering → Indices

Example 3
Earned value: cost performance index and cost variance — solve for cost performance index — Indices (3)

earned value cost performance index for a highway construction contract Given earned value (BCWP) (EV) = 29,000 $; actual cost (ACWP) (AC) = 85,000 $; cost variance (CV) = -100,000 $, determine the cost performance index (CPI).

Given

  • earned value (BCWP) (EV) = 29,000 $

  • actual cost (ACWP) (AC) = 85,000 $

  • cost variance (CV) = -100,000 $

Find

cost performance index (CPI)

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Earned value: cost performance index and cost variance.
  • Everything except CPI is given, so isolate CPI 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.
  • Earned value management measures project cost performance and productivity using cost performance index and cost variance.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    CPI=EVAC,CV=EV−ACCPI = \dfrac{EV}{AC}, \qquad CV = EV - AC
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that CPI stands alone on the left-hand side.

  3. Step 3 — List the givens: earned value (BCWP) (EV) = 29,000 $, actual cost (ACWP) (AC) = 85,000 $, cost variance (CV) = -100,000 $.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.

  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    CPI=0.3412CPI = 0.3412
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning CPI = 0.3412 to

    CPI=EVAC,CV=EV−ACCPI = \dfrac{EV}{AC}, \qquad CV = EV - AC

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
CPI=0.3412CPI = 0.3412

Why the other options are there

  • 0.6824 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 0.1706 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 0.3753 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Handbook — Nomenclature (earned value / productivity)

Example 4
Crew productivity — solve for production rate — Indices (4)

A construction engineering problem uses Crew productivity. Given duration (t) = 132.0 hr; total quantity (Q) = 223.0 units, determine the production rate (P) in units/hr.

Given

  • duration(t)=132.0hrduration (t) = 132.0 hr
  • totalquantity(Q)=223.0unitstotal quantity (Q) = 223.0 units

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

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    Q=P×tQ = P \times t
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that P stands alone on the left-hand side.

  3. Step 3

    Listthegivens:duration(t)=132.0hr,totalquantity(Q)=223.0unitsList the givens: duration (t) = 132.0 hr, total quantity (Q) = 223.0 units
  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.

  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    P=1.6894 units/hrP = 1.6894\ \text{units/hr}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning P = 1.6894 units/hr to

    Q=P×tQ = P \times t

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
P=1.6894 units/hrP = 1.6894\ \text{units/hr}

Why the other options are there

  • 3.3788 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 0.8447 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 1.8583 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Construction Engineering → Indices

Example 5
Total cost from unit cost — solve for unit cost — Indices (5)

A construction engineering problem uses Total cost from unit cost. Given quantity (Q) = 9,647 units; total cost (C) = 21,314 $, determine the unit cost (cu) in $/unit.

Given

  • quantity(Q)=9,647unitsquantity (Q) = 9,647 units
  • total cost (C) = 21,314 $

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

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    C=cu×QC = c_u \times Q
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that cu stands alone on the left-hand side.

  3. Step 3 — List the givens: quantity (Q) = 9,647 units, total cost (C) = 21,314 $.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.

  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    cu=2.2094 $/unitcu = 2.2094\ \text{\$/unit}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning cu = 2.2094 $/unit to

    C=cu×QC = c_u \times Q

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
cu=2.2094 $/unitcu = 2.2094\ \text{\$/unit}

Why the other options are there

  • 4.4188 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 1.1047 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 2.4303 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Construction Engineering → Indices

Example 6
Earned value: cost performance index and cost variance — solve for cost variance — Indices (6)

earned value analysis to assess cost performance on a construction project Given earned value (BCWP) (EV) = 174,500 $; actual cost (ACWP) (AC) = 398,500 $; cost performance index (CPI) = 0.8800, determine the cost variance (CV) in $.

Given

  • earned value (BCWP) (EV) = 174,500 $

  • actual cost (ACWP) (AC) = 398,500 $

  • costperformanceindex(CPI)=0.8800cost performance index (CPI) = 0.8800

Find

cost variance (CV), in $

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Earned value: cost performance index and cost variance.
  • Everything except CV is given, so isolate CV 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.
  • Earned value management measures project cost performance and productivity using cost performance index and cost variance.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    CPI=EVAC,CV=EV−ACCPI = \dfrac{EV}{AC}, \qquad CV = EV - AC
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that CV stands alone on the left-hand side.

  3. Step 3 — List the givens: earned value (BCWP) (EV) = 174,500 $, actual cost (ACWP) (AC) = 398,500 $, cost performance index (CPI) = 0.8800.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.

  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    CV=−224000 $CV = -224000\ \text{\$}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning CV = -224,000 $ to

    CPI=EVAC,CV=EV−ACCPI = \dfrac{EV}{AC}, \qquad CV = EV - AC

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
CV=−224000 $CV = -224000\ \text{\$}

Why the other options are there

  • -448,000 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • -112,000 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • -246,400 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Handbook — Nomenclature (earned value / productivity)

Example 7
Crew productivity — solve for duration — Indices (7)

A construction engineering problem uses Crew productivity. Given production rate (P) = 19.0000 units/hr; total quantity (Q) = 657.0 units, determine the duration (t) in hr.

Given

  • productionrate(P)=19.0000units/hrproduction rate (P) = 19.0000 units/hr
  • totalquantity(Q)=657.0unitstotal quantity (Q) = 657.0 units

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

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    Q=P×tQ = P \times t
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that t stands alone on the left-hand side.

  3. Step 3 — List the givens: production rate (P) = 19.0000 units/hr, total quantity (Q) = 657.0 units.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.

  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    t=34.5789 hrt = 34.5789\ \text{hr}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning t = 34.5789 hr to

    Q=P×tQ = P \times t

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
t=34.5789 hrt = 34.5789\ \text{hr}

Why the other options are there

  • 69.1579 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 17.2895 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 38.0368 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Construction Engineering → Indices

Example 8
Total cost from unit cost — solve for quantity — Indices (8)

A construction engineering problem uses Total cost from unit cost. Given unit cost (cu) = 50.5000 $/unit; total cost (C) = 127,360 $, determine the quantity (Q) in units.

Given

  • unit cost (cu) = 50.5000 $/unit

  • total cost (C) = 127,360 $

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

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    C=cu×QC = c_u \times Q
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that Q stands alone on the left-hand side.

  3. Step 3 — List the givens: unit cost (cu) = 50.5000 $/unit, total cost (C) = 127,360 $.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.

  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    Q=2522 unitsQ = 2522\ \text{units}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning Q = 2,522 units to

    C=cu×QC = c_u \times Q

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
Q=2522 unitsQ = 2522\ \text{units}

Why the other options are there

  • 5,044 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 1,261 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 2,774 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Construction Engineering → Indices

Example 9
Earned value: cost performance index and cost variance — solve for actual cost (ACWP) — Indices (9)

productivity and cost variance tracking on a building project schedule Given earned value (BCWP) (EV) = 160,000 $; cost performance index (CPI) = 0.5200; cost variance (CV) = 38,000 $, determine the actual cost (ACWP) (AC) in $.

Given

  • earned value (BCWP) (EV) = 160,000 $

  • costperformanceindex(CPI)=0.5200cost performance index (CPI) = 0.5200
  • cost variance (CV) = 38,000 $

Find

actual cost (ACWP) (AC), in $

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Earned value: cost performance index and cost variance.
  • Everything except AC is given, so isolate AC 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.
  • Earned value management measures project cost performance and productivity using cost performance index and cost variance.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    CPI=EVAC,CV=EV−ACCPI = \dfrac{EV}{AC}, \qquad CV = EV - AC
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that AC stands alone on the left-hand side.

  3. Step 3 — List the givens: earned value (BCWP) (EV) = 160,000 $, cost performance index (CPI) = 0.5200, cost variance (CV) = 38,000 $.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.

  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    AC=307692 $AC = 307692\ \text{\$}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning AC = 307,692 $ to

    CPI=EVAC,CV=EV−ACCPI = \dfrac{EV}{AC}, \qquad CV = EV - AC

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
AC=307692 $AC = 307692\ \text{\$}

Why the other options are there

  • 615,385 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 153,846 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 338,462 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Handbook — Nomenclature (earned value / productivity)

Example 10
Crew productivity — solve for total quantity (case 2) — Indices (10)

A construction engineering problem uses Crew productivity. Given production rate (P) = 18.0000 units/hr; duration (t) = 168.0 hr, determine the total quantity (Q) in units.

Given

  • productionrate(P)=18.0000units/hrproduction rate (P) = 18.0000 units/hr
  • duration(t)=168.0hrduration (t) = 168.0 hr

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

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    Q=P×tQ = P \times t
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that Q stands alone on the left-hand side.

  3. Step 3

    Listthegivens:productionrate(P)=18.0000units/hr,duration(t)=168.0hrList the givens: production rate (P) = 18.0000 units/hr, duration (t) = 168.0 hr
  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.

  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    Q=3024 unitsQ = 3024\ \text{units}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning Q = 3,024 units to

    Q=P×tQ = P \times t

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
Q=3024 unitsQ = 3024\ \text{units}

Why the other options are there

  • 6,048 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 1,512 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 3,326 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Construction Engineering → Indices

© 2026 Dr. Steve Efe. Civil Engineering Capstone Studio. All rights reserved.