PTCB Practice Exam (Math) Questions and
Answers
1. If a physician writes an order for 400 mL of D5W to be infused
over a 4-hour time period, and the IV drop factor is 12 gtt/mL,
how many drops per minute should be delivered?
a. 12 gtt
b. 2 gtt
c. 1.67 gtt
d. 20 gtt
ANS 20 gtt
First find the total number of minutes
60 X 4 = 240. Then find mL/min
= 1.67 ml infused in 1 minute. Then multiply this by the drop factor
1.67 X 12 = 20 drops per minute.
2. A drug sells for $29.99 retail and has a wholesale cost of $19.74.
The dispens- ing cost is $3.20. What is the pharmacy's net profit?
A $10.25
B $29.99
,C $3.20
D $7.05
ANS $7.05
Gross profit is selling price minus purchase price. For net profit you also need to subtract the dispensing
cost as well.
3. You are planning to prepare 600 mL of 20% dextrose solution, by
mixing your 5% and 50% dextrose solution. How much of each
solution will be needed?
A 350 mL of the 50% and 250 mL of the 5%
B 300 mL of the 50% and 100 mL of the 5%
C 200 mL of the 50% and 400 mL of the 5%
D 300 mL of the 50% and 300 mL of the 5%
ANS 200 mL of the 50% and 400 mL of the 5%
4. Seventy-four degrees Fahrenheit is equal to what temperature in
Celsius?
A 74.0
B 23.3
C 18.3
, D 30.7
ANS 23.3
To convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 from the Fahrenheit temperature and then divide by 1.8.
5. An order is written for 500 mL of NS to infuse at 40 gtt/min.
How long would it take to infuse the NS if the set delivers 10
gtt/mL?
A 40 minutes
B 125 minutes
C 50 minutes
D 100 minutes
ANS 125 minutes
10 gtt/mL means 10 drops per mL. So for 500 mL you will get
10 X 500 = 5,000 drops. The flow rate is 40 gtt/min, which means 40 drops per minute, so divide total
drops by 40 to get the number of minutes
5,000/40 = 125.
6. Convert 5.5 kg to pounds.
A 1.21 lb
Answers
1. If a physician writes an order for 400 mL of D5W to be infused
over a 4-hour time period, and the IV drop factor is 12 gtt/mL,
how many drops per minute should be delivered?
a. 12 gtt
b. 2 gtt
c. 1.67 gtt
d. 20 gtt
ANS 20 gtt
First find the total number of minutes
60 X 4 = 240. Then find mL/min
= 1.67 ml infused in 1 minute. Then multiply this by the drop factor
1.67 X 12 = 20 drops per minute.
2. A drug sells for $29.99 retail and has a wholesale cost of $19.74.
The dispens- ing cost is $3.20. What is the pharmacy's net profit?
A $10.25
B $29.99
,C $3.20
D $7.05
ANS $7.05
Gross profit is selling price minus purchase price. For net profit you also need to subtract the dispensing
cost as well.
3. You are planning to prepare 600 mL of 20% dextrose solution, by
mixing your 5% and 50% dextrose solution. How much of each
solution will be needed?
A 350 mL of the 50% and 250 mL of the 5%
B 300 mL of the 50% and 100 mL of the 5%
C 200 mL of the 50% and 400 mL of the 5%
D 300 mL of the 50% and 300 mL of the 5%
ANS 200 mL of the 50% and 400 mL of the 5%
4. Seventy-four degrees Fahrenheit is equal to what temperature in
Celsius?
A 74.0
B 23.3
C 18.3
, D 30.7
ANS 23.3
To convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 from the Fahrenheit temperature and then divide by 1.8.
5. An order is written for 500 mL of NS to infuse at 40 gtt/min.
How long would it take to infuse the NS if the set delivers 10
gtt/mL?
A 40 minutes
B 125 minutes
C 50 minutes
D 100 minutes
ANS 125 minutes
10 gtt/mL means 10 drops per mL. So for 500 mL you will get
10 X 500 = 5,000 drops. The flow rate is 40 gtt/min, which means 40 drops per minute, so divide total
drops by 40 to get the number of minutes
5,000/40 = 125.
6. Convert 5.5 kg to pounds.
A 1.21 lb
