Mastering Medication Math: 150
Questions for Healthcare Providers
2025/2026
1-25: Basic Dose Calculations
1. A physician orders 500 mg of amoxicillin. The pharmacy supplies
250 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
2 tablets
Rationale: 500 mg ÷ 250 mg/tablet = 2 tablets.
2. A patient is prescribed 0.5 g of medication. How many milligrams
is this?
500 mg
Rationale: 1 g = 1000 mg, so 0.5 g × 1000 = 500 mg.
3. A solution contains 100 mg of drug per 2 mL. How many mL are
needed for a 250 mg dose?
5 mL
Rationale: (250 mg × 2 mL) ÷ 100 mg = 5 mL.
4. The order reads: 2 mg of lorazepam. The supply is 0.5 mg tablets.
How many tablets should be given?
4 tablets
Rationale: 2 mg ÷ 0.5 mg/tablet = 4 tablets.
5. A patient needs 1 L of IV fluid over 8 hours. What is the infusion
rate in mL/hr?
125 mL/hr
Rationale: 1000 mL ÷ 8 hr = 125 mL/hr.
6. A child is prescribed 10 mg/kg of ampicillin. The child weighs 15
kg. What is the dose?
, 150 mg
Rationale: 10 mg × 15 kg = 150 mg.
7. The doctor orders 0.25 mg of digoxin. Available is 0.125 mg
tablets. How many tablets should be given?
2 tablets
Rationale: 0.25 mg ÷ 0.125 mg/tablet = 2 tablets.
8. A nurse has 1 mg/mL of medication. The order is 0.75 mg. How
many mL should be administered?
0.75 mL
Rationale: 0.75 mg ÷ 1 mg/mL = 0.75 mL.
9. A solution contains 50 mg/5 mL. How many mL will deliver 150
mg?
15 mL
Rationale: (150 mg × 5 mL) ÷ 50 mg = 15 mL.
10. A patient is prescribed 2.4 g of ceftriaxone. Available: 1 g
vials. How many vials are needed?
3 vials
Rationale: 2.4 g ÷ 1 g/vial = 2.4 → round up to 3 vials.
11. A physician orders 0.6 g of a drug. How many mg is this?
600 mg
Rationale: 0.6 g × 1000 mg/g = 600 mg.
12. The order is for 5 mg/kg/day divided in 2 doses. The patient
weighs 20 kg. How many mg per dose?
50 mg per dose
Rationale: 5 mg × 20 kg = 100 mg/day ÷ 2 = 50 mg/dose.
13. The doctor orders 750 mg of acetaminophen. Available: 325
mg tablets. How many tablets should be administered?
2.31 tablets
, Rationale: 750 ÷ 325 = 2.31. Tablet may need to be rounded per
policy.
14. A patient requires 15 mEq of potassium chloride. Available:
20 mEq/15 mL. How many mL should be given?
11.25 mL
Rationale: (15 × 15) ÷ 20 = 11.25 mL.
15. A physician orders 0.02 g of medication. How many mg is
this?
20 mg
Rationale: 0.02 g × 1000 mg/g = 20 mg.
16. A patient weighing 50 kg requires 2 mg/kg of medication.
What is the dose?
100 mg
Rationale: 50 kg × 2 mg/kg = 100 mg.
17. An order states 0.75 L of fluid over 6 hours. What is the
mL/hr rate?
125 mL/hr
Rationale: 0.75 L = 750 mL; 750 ÷ 6 = 125 mL/hr.
18. A patient needs 0.5 mg of medication. Available: 0.25 mg
tablets. How many tablets are needed?
2 tablets
Rationale: 0.5 ÷ 0.25 = 2 tablets.
19. An order is for 120 mg of medication. Available: 40 mg
tablets. How many tablets are required?
3 tablets
Rationale: 120 ÷ 40 = 3 tablets.
20. A physician orders 1.2 g of cefazolin. Available: 500 mg vials.
How many vials are required?
Questions for Healthcare Providers
2025/2026
1-25: Basic Dose Calculations
1. A physician orders 500 mg of amoxicillin. The pharmacy supplies
250 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
2 tablets
Rationale: 500 mg ÷ 250 mg/tablet = 2 tablets.
2. A patient is prescribed 0.5 g of medication. How many milligrams
is this?
500 mg
Rationale: 1 g = 1000 mg, so 0.5 g × 1000 = 500 mg.
3. A solution contains 100 mg of drug per 2 mL. How many mL are
needed for a 250 mg dose?
5 mL
Rationale: (250 mg × 2 mL) ÷ 100 mg = 5 mL.
4. The order reads: 2 mg of lorazepam. The supply is 0.5 mg tablets.
How many tablets should be given?
4 tablets
Rationale: 2 mg ÷ 0.5 mg/tablet = 4 tablets.
5. A patient needs 1 L of IV fluid over 8 hours. What is the infusion
rate in mL/hr?
125 mL/hr
Rationale: 1000 mL ÷ 8 hr = 125 mL/hr.
6. A child is prescribed 10 mg/kg of ampicillin. The child weighs 15
kg. What is the dose?
, 150 mg
Rationale: 10 mg × 15 kg = 150 mg.
7. The doctor orders 0.25 mg of digoxin. Available is 0.125 mg
tablets. How many tablets should be given?
2 tablets
Rationale: 0.25 mg ÷ 0.125 mg/tablet = 2 tablets.
8. A nurse has 1 mg/mL of medication. The order is 0.75 mg. How
many mL should be administered?
0.75 mL
Rationale: 0.75 mg ÷ 1 mg/mL = 0.75 mL.
9. A solution contains 50 mg/5 mL. How many mL will deliver 150
mg?
15 mL
Rationale: (150 mg × 5 mL) ÷ 50 mg = 15 mL.
10. A patient is prescribed 2.4 g of ceftriaxone. Available: 1 g
vials. How many vials are needed?
3 vials
Rationale: 2.4 g ÷ 1 g/vial = 2.4 → round up to 3 vials.
11. A physician orders 0.6 g of a drug. How many mg is this?
600 mg
Rationale: 0.6 g × 1000 mg/g = 600 mg.
12. The order is for 5 mg/kg/day divided in 2 doses. The patient
weighs 20 kg. How many mg per dose?
50 mg per dose
Rationale: 5 mg × 20 kg = 100 mg/day ÷ 2 = 50 mg/dose.
13. The doctor orders 750 mg of acetaminophen. Available: 325
mg tablets. How many tablets should be administered?
2.31 tablets
, Rationale: 750 ÷ 325 = 2.31. Tablet may need to be rounded per
policy.
14. A patient requires 15 mEq of potassium chloride. Available:
20 mEq/15 mL. How many mL should be given?
11.25 mL
Rationale: (15 × 15) ÷ 20 = 11.25 mL.
15. A physician orders 0.02 g of medication. How many mg is
this?
20 mg
Rationale: 0.02 g × 1000 mg/g = 20 mg.
16. A patient weighing 50 kg requires 2 mg/kg of medication.
What is the dose?
100 mg
Rationale: 50 kg × 2 mg/kg = 100 mg.
17. An order states 0.75 L of fluid over 6 hours. What is the
mL/hr rate?
125 mL/hr
Rationale: 0.75 L = 750 mL; 750 ÷ 6 = 125 mL/hr.
18. A patient needs 0.5 mg of medication. Available: 0.25 mg
tablets. How many tablets are needed?
2 tablets
Rationale: 0.5 ÷ 0.25 = 2 tablets.
19. An order is for 120 mg of medication. Available: 40 mg
tablets. How many tablets are required?
3 tablets
Rationale: 120 ÷ 40 = 3 tablets.
20. A physician orders 1.2 g of cefazolin. Available: 500 mg vials.
How many vials are required?
