Chapter 6 Math Review

One fluid ounce

30 mL

0055

12:55 AM in military time

milliliters (mL) and liters (L).

used in Pharmacy to measure volume.

1cc

1mL

Conversion factor

A fraction that is used to convert one unit to another without changing the value of the number

If a prescription for 1 mcg of medication were filled with 1 mg of medication

the patient would receive a 1000-fold overdose. A 1000-unit difference exists between these two measurements (1000 mcg = 1 mg).

A prescription order for ½ gram would best be written as:

0.5 g always using leading zeros in Pharmacy

The process of adding a diluent or solvent to a compound, resulting in a product of increased volume or weight and lower concentration

Dilution

A system of measurement once used in the practice of pharmacy to measure both volume and weight; this system has been mostly replaced by the metric system

Apothecary system

A system of measurement previously used in pharmacy for the determination of weight in ounces and pounds; this system has been mostly replaced by the metric system

Avoirdupois system

An inert product, either liquid or solid, that is added to a preparation to reduce the strength of the original product

Diluent/solvent

type of unit used in the United States to express the concentration of electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium

Milliequivalent (mEq)

The approved system of measurement for pharmacy in the United States based on multiples of 10; the basic units of measurement are the gram (g) for weight, the liter (L) for volume, and the meter (m) for length

Metric system

A 24-hour method of keeping time; hours are not distinguished as AM or PM, but rather are counted continuously throughout the day

International time

The number of drops (gtt) administered over a specific time via an intravenous infusion (eg, gtt/min)

Drip rate (DR) or drop rate

A system of measurement commonly used in the United States; it measures volumes using household utensils

Household system

The amount of intravenous (IV) solution administered over a specific period (eg, mL/min, mL/hr, gtt/min); volume/time

Infusion rate or Flow rate

A system of measurement based on seven base units with prefixes that change units by multiples of 10

International System of Units (SI)

Markup

The amount added to a wholesale price (usually a percentage) to make a profit

Milliequivalent (mEq)

A type of unit used in the United States to express the concentration of electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium

The wholesale price plus markup

Retail price

The purchase price of a product (in this case, medicine), which is then marked up for resale

Wholesale cost

The amount of liquid enclosed within a container

Volume