cost of $0.30 per pound. Calculate the direct materials cost variance and the direct materials efficiency variance. Select the formula, then enter the amounts and compute the cost variance for direct materials and identify whether the variance is favorable (F) or unfavorable (U). cost of $0.30 per pound. Calculate the direct materials cost variance and the direct materials efficiency variance. Select the formula, then enter the amounts and compute the cost variance for direct materials and identify whether the variance is favorable (F) or unfavorable (U)