PTCB Practice Exam (Math)
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.
A drug sells for $29.99 retail and has a wholesale cost of $19.74. The dispensing 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.
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%
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.
, 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.
Convert 5.5 kg to pounds.
A 1.21 lb
B 55 lb
C 12.1 lb
D 0.55 lb Ans: 12.1 lb
A kilogram is equal to 2.2 pounds. 5.5 X 2.2 = 12.1
The percent equivalent of a 1:125 ratio is:
A 12.5%
B 0.8%
C 8.0%
D 0.08% Ans: 0.8%
Percent means parts per hundred. 1/125 = x/100 which means 125x = 100 which means x = 0.8
An order is written to administer 2 liters of an IV fluid over 18 hours. What will the flow rate be?
A 101 mL/hr
B 56 mL/hr
C 83 mL/hr
D 111 mL/hr Ans: 111 mL/hr
Divide the volume by the time to get the flow rate: 2 liters equals 2,000 mL. 2000/18 = 111.1
mL/hr
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.
A drug sells for $29.99 retail and has a wholesale cost of $19.74. The dispensing 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.
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%
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.
, 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.
Convert 5.5 kg to pounds.
A 1.21 lb
B 55 lb
C 12.1 lb
D 0.55 lb Ans: 12.1 lb
A kilogram is equal to 2.2 pounds. 5.5 X 2.2 = 12.1
The percent equivalent of a 1:125 ratio is:
A 12.5%
B 0.8%
C 8.0%
D 0.08% Ans: 0.8%
Percent means parts per hundred. 1/125 = x/100 which means 125x = 100 which means x = 0.8
An order is written to administer 2 liters of an IV fluid over 18 hours. What will the flow rate be?
A 101 mL/hr
B 56 mL/hr
C 83 mL/hr
D 111 mL/hr Ans: 111 mL/hr
Divide the volume by the time to get the flow rate: 2 liters equals 2,000 mL. 2000/18 = 111.1
mL/hr
