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Med math · 5 free problems

Tablet and capsule dosage practice

Start from the ordered amount, multiply by one tablet over the labeled strength, and let the milligrams cancel. Convert units first when the order and the label disagree.

Fictional labels. Round as each question says. How to round

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Tablets and capsules: work through the set

Question 1 of 5

Whole tablets

In a fictional medication-math exercise, the amount requested for one dose is 180 mg. Each tablet contains 60 mg. How many whole tablets contain that amount? Give the exact number of tablets; no rounding is needed.

Worked solution and answer

Answer: 3 tablets.

180 mg × (1 tablet / 60 mg) = 3 tablets. The mg units cancel.

Check: 3 tablets × 60 mg/tablet = 180 mg.

If you got one-third of a tablet: The requested amount is greater than the amount in one tablet. Dividing the supplied amount by the requested amount reverses the relationship.

Question 2 of 5

Half of a scored tablet

A fictional order calls for 25 mg. The practice label states scored tablets of 50 mg each. How many tablets is that? Give the exact answer; for this exercise, a half tablet is acceptable because the tablet is scored.

Worked solution and answer

Answer: 0.5 tablet.

25 mg × (1 tablet / 50 mg) = 0.5 tablet. The mg units cancel.

Check: 0.5 tablet × 50 mg/tablet = 25 mg.

If you got 2: You divided the label strength by the ordered amount. Put the ordered amount first and the strength per tablet in the denominator.

Question 3 of 5

Whole capsules

A fictional order calls for 500 mg. The practice label states capsules of 250 mg each. How many capsules is that? Give the exact answer; capsules cannot be split.

Worked solution and answer

Answer: 2 capsules.

500 mg × (1 capsule / 250 mg) = 2 capsules.

Check: 2 capsules × 250 mg/capsule = 500 mg.

If you got 0.5: You inverted the fraction. The answer has to be more than one capsule because the order is larger than one capsule's strength.

Question 4 of 5

Convert grams before counting tablets

A fictional order calls for 0.3 g. The practice label states tablets of 100 mg each. How many tablets is that? Use 1 g = 1,000 mg. Give the exact answer; no rounding is needed.

Worked solution and answer

Answer: 3 tablets.

First match units: 0.3 g × (1,000 mg / 1 g) = 300 mg. Then 300 mg × (1 tablet / 100 mg) = 3 tablets.

Check: 3 tablets × 100 mg/tablet = 300 mg = 0.3 g.

If you got 0.003: You divided 0.3 by 100 without converting grams to milligrams first. Match the units before you divide.

Question 5 of 5

One and a half scored tablets

A fictional order calls for 75 mg. The practice label states scored tablets of 50 mg each. How many tablets is that? Give the exact answer as a decimal; a half tablet is acceptable for this scored tablet.

Worked solution and answer

Answer: 1.5 tablets.

75 mg × (1 tablet / 50 mg) = 1.5 tablets.

Check: 1.5 tablets × 50 mg/tablet = 75 mg.

If you got 0.67: You divided 50 by 75. The ordered amount goes in the numerator.

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