Calculations Practice Exam

You are filling a prescription that reads: Amoxicillin 125 mg/5 mL, Sig 1 tsp t.i.d. Dispense 150 mL. How many milliliters should the patient take each day?

• 15mL

• 10mL

• 20mL

• 5mL

Answer explanation

1. "1 tsp" means 1 teaspoon, which is equivalent to 5 mL.

   • "t.i.d." means three times a day.

2. Calculate the amount of medication per dose:

   • 1 tsp = 5 mL per dose.

3. Calculate the total daily dosage:

   • 5 mL per dose × 3 doses per day

   • = 15 mL per day.

You are filling a prescription that reads: EES® 200, Sig 1 tsp t.i.d. Dispense 150 mL. How many days should this prescrip­tion last?

• 5 days

• 7 days

• 10 days

• 14 days

Answer explanation

1. EES® 200: This is the medication and strength.

   • Sig 1 tsp t.i.d.: 'Sig' means directions for use. "1 tsp" means 1 teaspoon per dose. 't.i.d.' means three times a day.

   • Dispense 150 mL: The total amount to be given is 150 mL.

2. Convert teaspoon to milliliters: 1 teaspoon (tsp) = 5 mL.

3. Calculate the total daily dose:

   • 1 dose = 5 mL

   • 3 doses per day: 5 mL × 3 = 15 mL per day

4. Calculate how many days the prescription will last:

   • Total volume dispensed = 150 mL

   • Daily usage = 15 mL

   • Number of days = 150 mL ÷ 15 mL/day = 10 days

A compounded prescription calls for 600 g of white petrolatum. How many 1 lb. jars should you obtain so there is enough to prepare this prescription?

• 2 jars

• 1 jar

• 4 jars

• 3 jars

Answer explanation

First, convert 1 pound (lb) to grams (g).
1 lb = 454 g.

1. Determine how many grams are in one jar: 1 jar = 454 g.

2. Calculate how many jars are needed to get at least 600 g:
   600 g ÷ 454 g/jar ≈ 1.32 jars.

3. Since you cannot obtain a fraction of a jar, you need to round up to the next whole number. Therefore, you need 2 jars.

Each tablet of Tylenol® #3 has 30 mg of codeine. How many grains of codeine are in each tablet of Tylenol® #3?

• 2 grains

• 1 grain

• 3 grains

• 1/2 grain

Answer explanation

First, recall the conversion factor between milligrams (mg) and grains. 1 grain = 64.8 mg.

1. Each tablet contains 30 mg of codeine.

2. To find out how many grains this is, divide the amount in mg by the number of mg in a grain:
   30 mg ÷ 64.8 mg/grain = 0.463 grains.

3. Looking at the answer choices, the closest value is 1/2 grain (which is 0.5 grain).

One form of influenza vaccine, the Live Attenuated Intranasal Vaccine, must be stored at -15°C. What is this temperature in degrees F?

• -2°F

• 5°F

• -5°F

• 2°F

Answer explanation

Recall the formula to convert Celsius (°C) to Fahrenheit (°F):
°F = (°C × 9/5) + 32

1. Substitute -15 for °C in the formula:
   °F = (-15 × 9/5) + 32

2. Calculate -15 × 9/5:
   -15 × 9 = -135
   -135 ÷ 5 = -27

3. Add 32 to -27:
   -27 + 32 = 5

4. So, -15°C is equal to 5°F.

The lead pharmacy technician must reor­der billing forms when 80% of the case has been used. A full case of billing forms contains 20 packages of forms. How many packages of forms should be remaining in the case when it’s time to reorder?

• 8 packages

• 16 packages

• 12 packages

• 4 packages

Answer explanation

First, determine how many packages are in a full case: 20 packages.

1. Next, calculate how many packages represent 80% of the case:
   80% of 20 = 0.8 × 20 = 16 packages.

2. This means that when 16 packages have been used, it is time to reorder.

3. To find out how many packages are left at this point, subtract the used packages from the total:
   20 - 16 = 4 packages.

In reconstituting a liquid antibiotic, 90 mL of distilled water should be used. If 1/3 of the water should be added first to moisten the powder, how much water should be added to moisten the powder?

• 30 mL

• 15 mL

• 16 mL

• 45 mL

Answer explanation

Total amount of distilled water required = 90 mL.

1. According to the question, 1/3 of the water should be added first to moisten the powder.

2. Calculate 1/3 of 90 mL:
   1/3 × 90 mL = 30 mL.

How many capsules of clindamycin hydro-chloride should be used to prepare 30 mL of the following preparation, if each capsule contains 150 mg of clindamycin hydrochloride? clindamycin hydrochloride 600 mg 70% isopropyl alcohol qs ad 60 mL

• 5 capsules

• 2 capsules

• 7 capsules

• 1 capsule

Answer explanation

The prescription is for 600 mg of clindamycin hydrochloride in a total volume of 60 mL.

1. But you are only preparing 30 mL, which is half of the total volume.

2. Therefore, you need half of the total amount of clindamycin hydrochloride: 600 mg / 2 = 300 mg.

3. Each capsule contains 150 mg of clindamycin hydrochloride.

4. To get 300 mg, you need: 300 mg / 150 mg per capsule = 2 capsules.

A prescription is written for ibuprofen 10% cream. How much ibuprofen is need­ed to make 20 g of the cream?

• 2 g

• 200 mg

• 4 g

• 400 mg

Answer explanation

10% cream means there are 10 grams of ibuprofen in every 100 grams of cream.

1. To find out how much ibuprofen is needed for 20 grams of cream, set up a proportion:
   10 g ibuprofen / 100 g cream = x g ibuprofen / 20 g cream

2. Cross-multiply to solve for x:
   100x = 10 × 20
   100x = 200
   x = 2

You are entering a prescription for an albuterol inhaler that delivers 90 mcg per actuation. If each container delivers 200 actuations and each dose is two actua­tions, how many mg are delivered in each dose?

• 0.09 mg

• 180 mg

• 90 mg

• 0.18 mg

Answer explanation

Each actuation delivers 90 mcg of albuterol.

1. Each dose consists of 2 actuations.

2. So, the total amount delivered per dose = 90 mcg/actuation × 2 actuations = 180 mcg per dose.

3. Convert micrograms (mcg) to milligrams (mg):
   1 mg = 1000 mcg
   So, 180 mcg = 180 / 1000 = 0.18 mg