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HESI A2 Math — Dosage Calculations, Ratios,
Fractions, Percentages, Metric Conversions &
Nursing Math
Questions 1–180 | HESI A2 Math Exam Preparation | 100% Pass Guaranteed |
Graded A+
1. A nurse is preparing to administer 500 mg of a medication. The medication is available
as 250 mg per tablet. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 1 tablet
B. 1.5 tablets
C. 2 tablets
D. 2.5 tablets
Correct answer: C
Explanation: To calculate the number of tablets: Desired dose ÷ Available dose = 500 mg ÷
250 mg = 2 tablets. Option A (1 tablet) would provide only 250 mg. Option B (1.5 tablets)
would provide 375 mg. Option D (2.5 tablets) would provide 625 mg, which exceeds the
prescribed dose.
2. A medication order reads: Administer 1,000 mL of normal saline over 8 hours. What is
the flow rate in mL/hour?
A. 100 mL/hour
B. 125 mL/hour
C. 150 mL/hour
D. 175 mL/hour
Correct answer: B
Explanation: To calculate the flow rate: Total volume ÷ Total time = 1,000 mL ÷ 8 hours = 125
mL/hour. Option A (100 mL/hour) would infuse 800 mL in 8 hours. Option C (150 mL/hour)
would infuse 1,200 mL. Option D (175 mL/hour) would infuse 1,400 mL.
3. Convert 2.5 kilograms to grams.
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A. 250 grams
B. 2,500 grams
C. 25,000 grams
D. 250,000 grams
Correct answer: B
Explanation: To convert kilograms to grams, multiply by 1,000. 2.5 kg × 1,000 = 2,500 grams.
Option A (250 grams) would be 0.25 kg. Option C (25,000 grams) would be 25 kg. Option D
(250,000 grams) would be 250 kg.
4. A child weighs 44 pounds. What is the child's weight in kilograms? (Round to the
nearest tenth.)
A. 18 kg
B. 20 kg
C. 22 kg
D. 24 kg
Correct answer: B
Explanation: To convert pounds to kilograms, divide by 2.2. 44 lb ÷ 2.2 = 20 kg. Option A (18
kg) would be 39.6 lb. Option C (22 kg) would be 48.4 lb. Option D (24 kg) would be 52.8 lb.
5. Solve: 3/4 + 1/2 = ?
A. 1/2
B. 3/4
C. 1 1/4
D. 1 1/2
Correct answer: C
Explanation: To add fractions, find a common denominator. 3/4 + 1/2 = 3/4 + 2/4 = 5/4 = 1
1/4. Option A (1/2) is incorrect. Option B (3/4) is only the first fraction. Option D (1 1/2)
would be 6/4, which is too high.
6. A medication is available as 125 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters will contain 375 mg?
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A. 10 mL
B. 12.5 mL
C. 15 mL
D. 20 mL
Correct answer: C
Explanation: Using ratio and proportion: 125 mg/5 mL = 375 mg/X mL. Cross-multiply: 125X
= 1,875. X = 15 mL. Option A (10 mL) would contain 250 mg. Option B (12.5 mL) would contain
312.5 mg. Option D (20 mL) would contain 500 mg.
7. Convert 0.75 to a fraction in simplest form.
A. 1/4
B. 1/2
C. 3/4
D. 7/8
Correct answer: C
Explanation: 0.75 = 75/100. Divide numerator and denominator by 25: 75/100 = 3/4. Option
A (1/4) = 0.25. Option B (1/2) = 0.50. Option D (7/8) = 0.875.
8. A nurse needs to administer 0.5 mg of a medication. The vial contains 1 mg/mL. How
many milliliters should the nurse draw up?
A. 0.25 mL
B. 0.5 mL
C. 1 mL
D. 2 mL
Correct answer: B
Explanation: Using the formula: Desired ÷ Available = 0.5 mg ÷ 1 mg/mL = 0.5 mL. Option A
(0.25 mL) would provide 0.25 mg. Option C (1 mL) would provide 1 mg. Option D (2 mL) would
provide 2 mg.
9. Convert 5,000 milliliters to liters.
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A. 0.5 liters
B. 5 liters
C. 50 liters
D. 500 liters
Correct answer: B
Explanation: To convert milliliters to liters, divide by 1,000. 5,000 mL ÷ 1,000 = 5 liters.
Option A (0.5 liters) would be 500 mL. Option C (50 liters) would be 50,000 mL. Option D (500
liters) would be 500,000 mL.
10. Solve: 2/3 × 3/5 = ?
A. 1/5
B. 2/5
C. 3/5
D. 6/8
Correct answer: B
Explanation: To multiply fractions, multiply numerators and denominators: (2 × 3)/(3 × 5) =
6/15. Simplify by dividing by 3: 6/15 = 2/5. Option A (1/5) is incorrect. Option C (3/5) is
incorrect. Option D (6/8) = 3/4, which is incorrect.
11. A medication order is for 15 mg/kg/day divided every 8 hours. The patient weighs 60
kg. How many milligrams will the patient receive per dose?
A. 200 mg
B. 300 mg
C. 400 mg
D. 500 mg
Correct answer: B
Explanation: Calculate total daily dose: 60 kg × 15 mg/kg/day = 900 mg/day. Divide by 3
doses (every 8 hours): 900 mg ÷ 3 = 300 mg/dose. Option A (200 mg) would be 600 mg/day.
Option C (400 mg) would be 1,200 mg/day. Option D (500 mg) would be 1,500 mg/day.
12. What is 25% of 200?
HESI A2 Math — Dosage Calculations, Ratios,
Fractions, Percentages, Metric Conversions &
Nursing Math
Questions 1–180 | HESI A2 Math Exam Preparation | 100% Pass Guaranteed |
Graded A+
1. A nurse is preparing to administer 500 mg of a medication. The medication is available
as 250 mg per tablet. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 1 tablet
B. 1.5 tablets
C. 2 tablets
D. 2.5 tablets
Correct answer: C
Explanation: To calculate the number of tablets: Desired dose ÷ Available dose = 500 mg ÷
250 mg = 2 tablets. Option A (1 tablet) would provide only 250 mg. Option B (1.5 tablets)
would provide 375 mg. Option D (2.5 tablets) would provide 625 mg, which exceeds the
prescribed dose.
2. A medication order reads: Administer 1,000 mL of normal saline over 8 hours. What is
the flow rate in mL/hour?
A. 100 mL/hour
B. 125 mL/hour
C. 150 mL/hour
D. 175 mL/hour
Correct answer: B
Explanation: To calculate the flow rate: Total volume ÷ Total time = 1,000 mL ÷ 8 hours = 125
mL/hour. Option A (100 mL/hour) would infuse 800 mL in 8 hours. Option C (150 mL/hour)
would infuse 1,200 mL. Option D (175 mL/hour) would infuse 1,400 mL.
3. Convert 2.5 kilograms to grams.
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A. 250 grams
B. 2,500 grams
C. 25,000 grams
D. 250,000 grams
Correct answer: B
Explanation: To convert kilograms to grams, multiply by 1,000. 2.5 kg × 1,000 = 2,500 grams.
Option A (250 grams) would be 0.25 kg. Option C (25,000 grams) would be 25 kg. Option D
(250,000 grams) would be 250 kg.
4. A child weighs 44 pounds. What is the child's weight in kilograms? (Round to the
nearest tenth.)
A. 18 kg
B. 20 kg
C. 22 kg
D. 24 kg
Correct answer: B
Explanation: To convert pounds to kilograms, divide by 2.2. 44 lb ÷ 2.2 = 20 kg. Option A (18
kg) would be 39.6 lb. Option C (22 kg) would be 48.4 lb. Option D (24 kg) would be 52.8 lb.
5. Solve: 3/4 + 1/2 = ?
A. 1/2
B. 3/4
C. 1 1/4
D. 1 1/2
Correct answer: C
Explanation: To add fractions, find a common denominator. 3/4 + 1/2 = 3/4 + 2/4 = 5/4 = 1
1/4. Option A (1/2) is incorrect. Option B (3/4) is only the first fraction. Option D (1 1/2)
would be 6/4, which is too high.
6. A medication is available as 125 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters will contain 375 mg?
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A. 10 mL
B. 12.5 mL
C. 15 mL
D. 20 mL
Correct answer: C
Explanation: Using ratio and proportion: 125 mg/5 mL = 375 mg/X mL. Cross-multiply: 125X
= 1,875. X = 15 mL. Option A (10 mL) would contain 250 mg. Option B (12.5 mL) would contain
312.5 mg. Option D (20 mL) would contain 500 mg.
7. Convert 0.75 to a fraction in simplest form.
A. 1/4
B. 1/2
C. 3/4
D. 7/8
Correct answer: C
Explanation: 0.75 = 75/100. Divide numerator and denominator by 25: 75/100 = 3/4. Option
A (1/4) = 0.25. Option B (1/2) = 0.50. Option D (7/8) = 0.875.
8. A nurse needs to administer 0.5 mg of a medication. The vial contains 1 mg/mL. How
many milliliters should the nurse draw up?
A. 0.25 mL
B. 0.5 mL
C. 1 mL
D. 2 mL
Correct answer: B
Explanation: Using the formula: Desired ÷ Available = 0.5 mg ÷ 1 mg/mL = 0.5 mL. Option A
(0.25 mL) would provide 0.25 mg. Option C (1 mL) would provide 1 mg. Option D (2 mL) would
provide 2 mg.
9. Convert 5,000 milliliters to liters.
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A. 0.5 liters
B. 5 liters
C. 50 liters
D. 500 liters
Correct answer: B
Explanation: To convert milliliters to liters, divide by 1,000. 5,000 mL ÷ 1,000 = 5 liters.
Option A (0.5 liters) would be 500 mL. Option C (50 liters) would be 50,000 mL. Option D (500
liters) would be 500,000 mL.
10. Solve: 2/3 × 3/5 = ?
A. 1/5
B. 2/5
C. 3/5
D. 6/8
Correct answer: B
Explanation: To multiply fractions, multiply numerators and denominators: (2 × 3)/(3 × 5) =
6/15. Simplify by dividing by 3: 6/15 = 2/5. Option A (1/5) is incorrect. Option C (3/5) is
incorrect. Option D (6/8) = 3/4, which is incorrect.
11. A medication order is for 15 mg/kg/day divided every 8 hours. The patient weighs 60
kg. How many milligrams will the patient receive per dose?
A. 200 mg
B. 300 mg
C. 400 mg
D. 500 mg
Correct answer: B
Explanation: Calculate total daily dose: 60 kg × 15 mg/kg/day = 900 mg/day. Divide by 3
doses (every 8 hours): 900 mg ÷ 3 = 300 mg/dose. Option A (200 mg) would be 600 mg/day.
Option C (400 mg) would be 1,200 mg/day. Option D (500 mg) would be 1,500 mg/day.
12. What is 25% of 200?
