ATI TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) Version 7MathematicsMedium
A patient's medication is supplied in tablets, each containing 0.25 grams of the active ingredient. If a physician prescribes a dose of 500 milligrams (mg), how many tablets should the patient take?
- A0.5 tablets
- B2.5 tablets
- C2 tablets
- D1 tablet
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. 2 tablets
First, convert the tablet's active ingredient from grams to milligrams: 0.25 grams * 1000 mg/gram = 250 mg per tablet. The ordered dose is 500 mg. Divide the ordered dose by the strength per tablet: 500 mg / 250 mg/tablet = 2 tablets.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Incorrect; this would be if the tablets contained 1000 mg each.
- B. Incorrect; likely a miscalculation or incorrect unit conversion.
- D. Incorrect; this is the amount if the dose was 250 mg.
Tablet Dosage Calculation with Unit Conversion
Calculating the number of tablets needed for a prescribed dose when the available strength and prescribed dose are in different units.
- Requires converting grams (g) to milligrams (mg) (1 g = 1000 mg).
- All quantities must be in the same unit before division.
- Final step is dividing total dose by dose per tablet.
Memory trick: Grams to Milligrams, then Total Dose over Tablet Strength!