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Microlesson · 5-min read

Two-Step Numerical Format for ABC Problems

## Numerical Format for ABC Problems

ABC numerical problems follow a two-step procedure.

### Step 1 — Calculate the Cost Driver Rate

ActivityCost Pool (₹)Cost Driver NameCost Driver QtyCost Driver Rate
MachinexxxMachine HoursxxxPool ÷ Qty
SetupxxxSetup timexxxPool ÷ Qty
InspectionxxxNo. of InspectionsxxxPool ÷ Qty

> Cost Driver Rate (col 5) = Cost Pool (col 2) ÷ Cost Driver Quantity (col 4)

### Step 2 — Apportion Overheads to the Products

For each product, multiply the cost driver rate by the quantity of that driver the product consumes.

ActivitiesP1 — Driver QtyP1 — ₹ (CDR × Qty)P2 — Driver QtyP2 — ₹ (CDR × Qty)
Machinexxxxxxxxxxxx
Setupxxxxxxxxxxxx
Inspectionxxxxxxxxxxxx
A. Total OHxxxxxx
B. Unitsxxxxxx
C. OH per unit (A ÷ B)xxxxxx

> Tip: Keep Step 1 (rate per driver) and Step 2 (apply rate to each product's consumption) strictly separate. The final overhead per unit = total activity overheads for the product ÷ units produced.

Worked example

### Example 1

Applying the two-step format

Step 1: Setup cost pool = ₹3,00,000; total setups = 600 → CDR = ₹500/setup.

Step 2: Product P1 has 400 setups, P2 has 200 setups, P1 makes 4,000 units.

  • Setup OH to P1 = 400 × ₹500 = ₹2,00,000
  • Setup OH to P2 = 200 × ₹500 = ₹1,00,000
  • (After adding all activities) if P1 total OH = ₹2,00,000 over 4,000 units → OH per unit = ₹50.

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Skipping Step 1 and applying the cost pool directly to products without first deriving a per-driver rate.
  • Using a product's units of output as the cost driver quantity in Step 1 instead of the actual driver (setups, inspections, machine hours).
  • Forgetting to divide total product overhead by units to get overhead per unit in Step 2.
Reference:
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