Module 6 Homework — Bring to Your Virtual Testing Class

Dosage Calculation Homework

🧮 Instructions: Use the formulas and reference tables in the instruction section below to work through each problem. Show your work — writing out each step helps you catch mistakes and builds confidence. Bring your completed homework to the Virtual Testing Class.
Student Name:
Date:

📐 How to Do Dosage Calculations — Step by Step

Read this section carefully before starting the problems. These are the only two formulas you need to know.

Formula 1 — Solid Medications (Tablets & Capsules)

Dose ÷ Strength = Number of Tablets to Give
What the doctor ordered ÷ Strength of each tablet = How many you give
Worked Example A
The label reads: Lasix 10 mg tablets. The doctor ordered: Give 40 mg. How many tablets do you give?
Step 1 — Find the Dose (what the doctor ordered): 40 mg
Step 2 — Find the Strength (what each tablet contains): 10 mg
Step 3 — Divide: 40 ÷ 10 = 4
✓ Answer: Give 4 tablets
Worked Example B
The label reads: Trazodone 100 mg scored tablets. The doctor ordered: Give 50 mg. How many tablets?
Step 1 — Dose: 50 mg
Step 2 — Strength: 100 mg per tablet
Step 3 — Divide: 50 ÷ 100 = 0.5 (one-half)
✓ Answer: Give ½ tablet (only if it is a scored tablet and a written order allows splitting)

Formula 2 — Liquid Medications

(Dose ÷ Strength) × Volume = mL to Give
Dose = what's ordered  |  Strength = mg per mL on the bottle  |  Volume = mL amount listed on bottle
Worked Example C
The bottle reads: Amoxicillin 250 mg per 5 mL. The doctor ordered: Give 500 mg. How many mL do you give?
Step 1 — Dose: 500 mg
Step 2 — Strength: 250 mg  |  Volume: 5 mL
Step 3 — Divide first: 500 ÷ 250 = 2
Step 4 — Multiply by volume: 2 × 5 = 10
✓ Answer: Give 10 mL
Worked Example D
The bottle reads: Tylenol Elixir 160 mg per 5 mL. The doctor ordered: Give 320 mg. How many mL?
Step 1 — Dose: 320 mg
Step 2 — Strength: 160 mg  |  Volume: 5 mL
Step 3 — 320 ÷ 160 = 2
Step 4 — 2 × 5 = 10
✓ Answer: Give 10 mL

The Metric Chant — Memorize This!

5 — 15 — 30
1 teaspoon = 5 mL  |  1 Tablespoon = 15 mL  |  1 ounce = 30 mL
Household Measure= mL / ccMemory Tip
1 teaspoon (tsp)5 mLLowercase "t" — the smallest
1 Tablespoon (Tbsp)15 mLCapital "T" — 3× a teaspoon
1 ounce (oz)30 mL2 Tablespoons = 1 oz
1 cc= 1 mLUsed interchangeably
1,000 mg= 1 gramKilo = 1,000

Section I — Solid Medications (Tablets & Capsules)

Use the formula: Dose ÷ Strength = Number of Tablets to Give. Show your work on the lines provided.

1The label reads Metformin 500 mg tablets. The physician ordered 1,000 mg. How many tablets will you give?
Show your work:
Answer:
2The label reads Furosemide (Lasix) 20 mg tablets. The physician ordered 60 mg. How many tablets will you give?
Show your work:
Answer:
3The label reads Depakote 125 mg capsules. The physician ordered 500 mg. How many capsules will you give?
Show your work:
Answer:
4The label reads Coumadin 2.5 mg scored tablets. The physician ordered 5 mg. How many tablets will you give?
Show your work:
Answer:
5The label reads Ibuprofen 200 mg tablets. The physician ordered 600 mg. How many tablets will you give?
Show your work:
Answer:
6The label reads Trazodone 100 mg scored tablets. The physician ordered 150 mg. How many tablets will you give?
Show your work:
Answer:

Section II — Liquid Medications

Use the formula: (Dose ÷ Strength) × Volume = mL to Give. Show your work.

7The bottle reads Amoxicillin 250 mg per 5 mL. The physician ordered 500 mg. How many mL will you give?
Show your work:
Answer:
8The bottle reads Tylenol Elixir 160 mg per 5 mL. The physician ordered 320 mg. How many mL will you give?
Show your work:
Answer:
9The bottle reads Benadryl 12.5 mg per 5 mL. The physician ordered 25 mg. How many mL will you give?
Show your work:
Answer:
10The bottle reads Zithromax (Azithromycin) 200 mg per 5 mL. The physician ordered 400 mg. How many mL will you give?
Show your work:
Answer:

Section III — Metric Conversions (The 5 – 15 – 30 Chant)

Fill in the blanks. Use the chant: 1 tsp = 5 mL  |  1 Tbsp = 15 mL  |  1 oz = 30 mL

#Measurement= ? mL (or other unit)
111 teaspoon 
121 Tablespoon 
131 ounce 
142 teaspoons 
152 Tablespoons 
16½ ounce 
173 teaspoons 
181 cc 
191,000 mg 
20½ Tablespoon 

Section IV — Pharmacy Label Scenario

Read the pharmacy label below, then answer the questions.

Goodpills Pharmacy  |  (303) 555-4400
RX# 884712    Date Filled: 04/15/2026    Exp: 04/15/2027
Patient: Margaret Sullivan
Lisinopril 10 mg tablets
Take 2 tablets by mouth once daily in the morning
Prescriber: Dr. R. Alvarez    Refills: 5
Qty: 60 tablets
21What is the strength of each tablet?
22What is the dose ordered by the physician? (How much will you give?)
23Using the formula, calculate how many tablets you will give per dose. Show your work.
Show your work:
Answer:
24How many milligrams total will the patient receive per dose?
25Is this medication expired? How do you know?

Section V — Critical Thinking

26You calculate that a client needs 3½ tablets. The tablet is not scored. What should you do?
27The order says give 1 oz of Milk of Magnesia. The measuring cup only has mL markings. How many mL will you measure out?
Show your work:
Answer:
28The physician ordered 1 Tablespoon of a liquid antibiotic. A coworker says "just give 3 teaspoons — it's the same thing." Are they correct? Explain.
29You are about to give a liquid medication. You are not sure of the exact amount. What is the correct way to measure, and what tool would you use?
30The physician's order says 1 gram of Tylenol. The tablets are labeled 500 mg each. How many tablets will you give? Show your work. (Hint: Convert grams to mg first!)
Show your work:
Answer:
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