Help please. I just cant get the math

Amybeth56 · Apr 19, 2009

Now that makes since and now I really feel dumb it was that easy. Thanks so much. I have to ask one more thing if I may. Could you explain ratio and proportion in laymens terms for me. I cant say thank you enough.

NamasteNurse, BSN, RN · Apr 19, 2009

Ok listen up, you have to stop 'feeling dumb'. That will not serve you in nursing school or as a nurse. Lots of people have trouble with this stuff, me included. I am 51 years old. I got a D in math waaaaay back in the 70's I took the easiest math I could in college and taught middle school for 15 years. I actually wanted to be a nurse, but my own mother told me that I would "never get the math so forget it". I believed that all my life---until now. I said to myself, I HAVE to get this. Little kids get it so I can too. I started nursing school this January and studied to pass the entrance exam. The math came along and they told us if we didn't pass math we were out of the program. I studied a lot. A lot. I mean A LOT. And now I get it. If I can, you can too, so change the thoughts in your head and say, "I don't know it now and it's hard for me, but I know I'm smart and I will learn it". No more "dumb" ok?

Now, proportion. So you are just saying that two things are equivalent. Like in fractions;

1/2 = 2/4 = 3/6 = 4/8 and so on. A proportion just puts it in another form;

1:2 :: 2:4 (you say it aloud like this, "One is to two as two is to four")

to figure a problem you can do the 'means and extremes' way or you can do the fraction way, (which I find easier). Both work and in nursing school you can probably choose. Below are some basic problems to help you learn the answers are the second link.

An important fact to know about proportions, is that if one of the numbers in a proportion is not known, cross multiplying can be used to find the unknown number. For example, cross multiply to find the missing number in the proportion below:

2: 10 :: ____:20 in fraction for example 2/10 : x/20 multiply to get 10x = 40

then divide to get the x alone, so divide by 10. you get x = 4 go back and plug it into the original problem. 2 is to 10 as 4 is to 20. Hope this helps.

http://www.mathmax.com/basicmath/chapter/ch_ep/ch5s4.pdf

http://www.mathmax.com/basicmath/chapter/ch_ep/ch5s4a.pdf

Amybeth56 · Apr 19, 2009

ok listen up, you have to stop 'feeling dumb'. That will not serve you in nursing school or as a nurse. Lots of people have trouble with this stuff, me included. I am 51 years old. I got a d in math waaaaay back in the 70's i took the easiest math i could in college and taught middle school for 15 years. I actually wanted to be a nurse, but my own mother told me that i would "never get the math so forget it". I believed that all my life---until now. I said to myself, i have to get this. Little kids get it so i can too. I started nursing school this january and studied to pass the entrance exam. The math came along and they told us if we didn't pass math we were out of the program. I studied a lot. A lot. I mean a lot. And now i get it. If i can, you can too, so change the thoughts in your head and say, "i don't know it now and it's hard for me, but i know i'm smart and i will learn it". No more "dumb" ok?
Now, proportion. So you are just saying that two things are equivalent. Like in fractions;
1/2 = 2/4 = 3/6 = 4/8 and so on. A proportion just puts it in another form;
1:2 :: 2:4 (you say it aloud like this, "one is to two as two is to four")
to figure a problem you can do the 'means and extremes' way or you can do the fraction way, (which i find easier). Both work and in nursing school you can probably choose. Below are some basic problems to help you learn the answers are the second link.
An important fact to know about proportions, is that if one of the numbers in a proportion is not known, cross multiplying can be used to find the unknown number. For example, cross multiply to find the missing number in the proportion below:
2: 10 :: ____:20 in fraction for example 2/10 : X/20 multiply to get 10x = 40
then divide to get the x alone, so divide by 10. You get x = 4 go back and plug it into the original problem. 2 is to 10 as 4 is to 20. Hope this helps.
http://www.mathmax.com/basicmath/chapter/ch_ep/ch5s4.pdf
http://www.mathmax.com/basicmath/chapter/ch_ep/ch5s4a.pdf

youre absolutley right. I will from now on think positive. I know i can do this. It also helps to know someone who was in the same boat as me and overcame. Thank you, thank you, thank you

krltdy · Apr 20, 2009

I just picked up "Dosage Calculations Made Incredibly Easy" from the library, and it has helped tremendously! Please pick this book up, it breaks everything down in layman's terms! I WAS HORRIBLE AT MATH!!!! Now, I feel more confident than I ever have! HTH!!!

Amybeth56 · Apr 20, 2009

i just picked up "dosage calculations made incredibly easy" from the library, and it has helped tremendously! Please pick this book up, it breaks everything down in layman's terms! I was horrible at math!!!! Now, i feel more confident than i ever have! Hth!!!

thanks. Im using every resource i can. A matter of fact i am going to the school library in the morning. I will look for that book. My first tedt is tommorrow morning. Have a great evening

ladynurse1 · Apr 22, 2009

thanks. Im using every resource i can. A matter of fact i am going to the school library in the morning. I will look for that book. My first tedt is tommorrow morning. Have a great evening

Here is a ratio and proportion problem as it relates to dosage calculations.

Ordered: Stadol 1.8mg IM stat postoperatively. Label: 2mg/mL. How many milliliters will you give, to the nearest tenth of a mL?

You set the problem up by putting what you have on hand on the left side of the problem:

2mg: 1mL

(this would come from the medication label in real life)

The next step would be to put what you need to find out on the right side. Hint: remember the right side has to be in the same order as the left side. I started with mg on the left so I will start with mg on the right side of the problem:

1.8mg:xmL

When you put the whole problem together it will look like this:

2mg: 1mL::1.8mg:xml

( you would say this aloud as 2 milligrams is to 1 milliliter as 1.8 milligrams is to x millilliters)

Now to work out the problem multiply the two outside numbers:

2 times x= 2x

Now multiply the two inside numbers:

1 times 1.8=1.8

So you are left with: 2x=1.8

Now divide both sides by 2 and you get x=0.9

So you would give 0.9 mL

Amybeth56 · Apr 22, 2009

here is a ratio and proportion problem as it relates to dosage calculations.
Ordered: Stadol 1.8mg im stat postoperatively. Label: 2mg/ml. How many milliliters will you give, to the nearest tenth of a ml?
You set the problem up by putting what you have on hand on the left side of the problem:
2mg: 1ml
(this would come from the medication label in real life)
the next step would be to put what you need to find out on the right side. Hint: Remember the right side has to be in the same order as the left side. I started with mg on the left so i will start with mg on the right side of the problem:
1.8mg:xml
when you put the whole problem together it will look like this:
2mg: 1ml::1.8mg:xml
( you would say this aloud as 2 milligrams is to 1 milliliter as 1.8 milligrams is to x millilliters)
now to work out the problem multiply the two outside numbers:
2 times x= 2x
now multiply the two inside numbers:
1 times 1.8=1.8
so you are left with: 2x=1.8
now divide both sides by 2 and you get x=0.9
so you would give 0.9 ml

thanks again. Ive printed and will use this as a guide tonight and practice practice practice. Your great. Thanks again.

Dani3176 · Apr 25, 2009

Change your attitude about the way you look at it. I had sooooo many problems with math in school..I even almost failed a grade because of dang algebra. Before school started I knew I had reading and grammar down pat but I was so afraid of math. I went to the library and got a big blue book called College Mathematics and read it and took the practice tests until I got it. It increased my confidence so much that I like math now since I was really proud of me for "getting it". I made a 94 on the entrance math and a 92 on the college math test. Then in Pharm I had 100's on all of my calculations tests!! I'm proof you can do it.. I had to look at it like "that was then and this is now" and I will conquer this!! I love calculations now!! Try finding that book..it made it so simple and when you get more confident in yourself you will have no problems. I know you can ace this. :yeah:

Amybeth56 · Apr 26, 2009

change your attitude about the way you look at it. I had sooooo many problems with math in school..i even almost failed a grade because of dang algebra. Before school started i knew i had reading and grammar down pat but i was so afraid of math. I went to the library and got a big blue book called college mathematics and read it and took the practice tests until i got it. It increased my confidence so much that i like math now since i was really proud of me for "getting it". I made a 94 on the entrance math and a 92 on the college math test. Then in pharm i had 100's on all of my calculations tests!! I'm proof you can do it.. I had to look at it like "that was then and this is now" and i will conquer this!! I love calculations now!! Try finding that book..it made it so simple and when you get more confident in yourself you will have no problems. I know you can ace this.

thank you so much. I have really been working on the math and i do feel better. I will look for that book and i will do good. I needed that vote of confidence.

Dani3176 · Apr 26, 2009

You're very welcome!!