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Nursing Dosage Calculations & Medication Math Exam |
200 Advanced Practice Questions with Verified Answers, Step-by-Step Workings
& Detailed Rationales | Complete Review for NCLEX-RN & Clinical Competency
SECTION 1: BASIC MATHEMATICS REVIEW (Questions 1–20)
1. A nurse is calculating a client's fluid intake. The client consumed 2/3 cup of tea and 1/4 cup
of water. How many cups of fluid did the client consume in total?
A. 5/12 cup
B. 3/7 cup
C. 11/12 cup
D. 1 cup
Correct Answer: C
Workings:
• Find common denominator for 2/3 and 1/4: LCD = 12
• 2/3 = 8/12; 1/4 = 3/12
• 8/12 + 3/12 = 11/12 cup
Rationale: When adding fractions, convert to a common denominator before adding
numerators. 11/12 is already in simplest form.
2. What is 0.4 expressed as a fraction in simplest form?
A. 1/4
B. 2/5
C. 3/5
D. 4/5
Correct Answer: B
Workings:
• 0.4 = 4/10
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• Divide numerator and denominator by 2: 4÷2=2; 10÷2=5
• 4/10 = 2/5
Rationale: Write the decimal over its place value (tenths) and reduce to lowest terms.
3. A nurse needs to divide a 1.2 mg dose into 6 equal doses. What is the amount of each dose
in micrograms?
A. 100 mcg
B. 150 mcg
C. 200 mcg
D. 250 mcg
Correct Answer: C
Workings:
• 1.2 mg ÷ 6 = 0.2 mg per dose
• 0.2 mg × 1,000 mcg/mg = 200 mcg
Rationale: Divide the total dose into equal parts, then convert mg to mcg by multiplying by
1,000.
4. What is 0.375 expressed as a fraction in simplest form?
A. 1/4
B. 3/8
C. 2/5
D. 5/8
Correct Answer: B
Workings:
• 0.375 = 375/1000
• Divide by 125: 375÷125=3; 1000÷125=8
• 375/1000 = 3/8
Rationale: Simplify by dividing numerator and denominator by their greatest common factor.
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5. A nurse must administer 3/5 of a 150 mL bottle of medication. How many mL should the
nurse give?
A. 60 mL
B. 75 mL
C. 90 mL
D. 100 mL
Correct Answer: C
Workings:
• 150 ÷ 5 = 30
• 30 × 3 = 90 mL
Rationale: Divide the total by the denominator, then multiply by the numerator.
6. What is 1.75 + 0.5 + 2.25?
A. 3.5
B. 4.0
C. 4.5
D. 5.0
Correct Answer: C
Workings:
• 1.75 + 0.5 = 2.25
• 2.25 + 2.25 = 4.5
Rationale: Align decimal points and add sequentially.
7. What is 0.06 expressed as a percentage?
A. 0.6%
B. 6%
C. 60%
D. 0.06%
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Correct Answer: B
Workings:
• 0.06 × 100 = 6%
Rationale: To convert a decimal to a percentage, multiply by 100 and add the percent symbol.
8. A nurse is preparing to administer 5/8 of a 400 mL solution. How many mL will be
administered?
A. 200 mL
B. 250 mL
C. 300 mL
D. 320 mL
Correct Answer: B
Workings:
• 400 ÷ 8 = 50
• 50 × 5 = 250 mL
Rationale: Divide the total by the denominator, then multiply by the numerator.
9. Calculate: 0.75 × 12.4
A. 8.4
B. 9.3
C. 9.8
D. 10.2
Correct Answer: B
Workings:
• 0.75 × 12.4 = 9.3
Rationale: Multiply as whole numbers (75 × 124 = 9300) and place the decimal two places from
the right.
Nursing Dosage Calculations & Medication Math Exam |
200 Advanced Practice Questions with Verified Answers, Step-by-Step Workings
& Detailed Rationales | Complete Review for NCLEX-RN & Clinical Competency
SECTION 1: BASIC MATHEMATICS REVIEW (Questions 1–20)
1. A nurse is calculating a client's fluid intake. The client consumed 2/3 cup of tea and 1/4 cup
of water. How many cups of fluid did the client consume in total?
A. 5/12 cup
B. 3/7 cup
C. 11/12 cup
D. 1 cup
Correct Answer: C
Workings:
• Find common denominator for 2/3 and 1/4: LCD = 12
• 2/3 = 8/12; 1/4 = 3/12
• 8/12 + 3/12 = 11/12 cup
Rationale: When adding fractions, convert to a common denominator before adding
numerators. 11/12 is already in simplest form.
2. What is 0.4 expressed as a fraction in simplest form?
A. 1/4
B. 2/5
C. 3/5
D. 4/5
Correct Answer: B
Workings:
• 0.4 = 4/10
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• Divide numerator and denominator by 2: 4÷2=2; 10÷2=5
• 4/10 = 2/5
Rationale: Write the decimal over its place value (tenths) and reduce to lowest terms.
3. A nurse needs to divide a 1.2 mg dose into 6 equal doses. What is the amount of each dose
in micrograms?
A. 100 mcg
B. 150 mcg
C. 200 mcg
D. 250 mcg
Correct Answer: C
Workings:
• 1.2 mg ÷ 6 = 0.2 mg per dose
• 0.2 mg × 1,000 mcg/mg = 200 mcg
Rationale: Divide the total dose into equal parts, then convert mg to mcg by multiplying by
1,000.
4. What is 0.375 expressed as a fraction in simplest form?
A. 1/4
B. 3/8
C. 2/5
D. 5/8
Correct Answer: B
Workings:
• 0.375 = 375/1000
• Divide by 125: 375÷125=3; 1000÷125=8
• 375/1000 = 3/8
Rationale: Simplify by dividing numerator and denominator by their greatest common factor.
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5. A nurse must administer 3/5 of a 150 mL bottle of medication. How many mL should the
nurse give?
A. 60 mL
B. 75 mL
C. 90 mL
D. 100 mL
Correct Answer: C
Workings:
• 150 ÷ 5 = 30
• 30 × 3 = 90 mL
Rationale: Divide the total by the denominator, then multiply by the numerator.
6. What is 1.75 + 0.5 + 2.25?
A. 3.5
B. 4.0
C. 4.5
D. 5.0
Correct Answer: C
Workings:
• 1.75 + 0.5 = 2.25
• 2.25 + 2.25 = 4.5
Rationale: Align decimal points and add sequentially.
7. What is 0.06 expressed as a percentage?
A. 0.6%
B. 6%
C. 60%
D. 0.06%
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Correct Answer: B
Workings:
• 0.06 × 100 = 6%
Rationale: To convert a decimal to a percentage, multiply by 100 and add the percent symbol.
8. A nurse is preparing to administer 5/8 of a 400 mL solution. How many mL will be
administered?
A. 200 mL
B. 250 mL
C. 300 mL
D. 320 mL
Correct Answer: B
Workings:
• 400 ÷ 8 = 50
• 50 × 5 = 250 mL
Rationale: Divide the total by the denominator, then multiply by the numerator.
9. Calculate: 0.75 × 12.4
A. 8.4
B. 9.3
C. 9.8
D. 10.2
Correct Answer: B
Workings:
• 0.75 × 12.4 = 9.3
Rationale: Multiply as whole numbers (75 × 124 = 9300) and place the decimal two places from
the right.
