A masonry crew of 4 workers can install 800 square feet of block wall per day. If the crew cost is $1,200 per day total, what is the labor cost per square foot?
Correct Answer
B) $1.50
Labor cost per square foot = Total daily crew cost ÷ Daily production = $1,200 ÷ 800 square feet = $1.50 per square foot. This calculation provides the unit labor cost for estimating similar work.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Option B is correct because labor cost per square foot is calculated by dividing the total daily crew cost by the total daily production. With a crew cost of $1,200 per day and production of 800 square feet per day, the unit cost is $1,200 ÷ 800 = $1.50 per square foot. This is a fundamental unit cost calculation used in construction estimating to determine labor rates for pricing similar work.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: $1.25
This answer of $1.25 would result from incorrectly calculating $1,000 ÷ 800, suggesting an error in the daily crew cost amount used in the calculation.
Option C: $2.00
This answer of $2.00 would result from incorrectly calculating $1,600 ÷ 800, suggesting the daily crew cost was overstated by $400 in the calculation.
Option D: $0.67
This answer of $0.67 appears to result from inverting the calculation (800 ÷ 1,200) or using incorrect values, which would give square feet per dollar rather than cost per square foot.
Memory Technique
Remember 'Cost Per' = 'Cost ÷ Per' - when you see 'cost per square foot,' divide the total cost by the square feet.
Reference Hint
Construction estimating sections covering unit cost calculations and labor productivity rates, typically found in project management or estimating chapters.
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