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Discussion

Dimensional Analysis made easy please

I am going to bite the bullet and make myself learn dimensional analysis. I am very good at math and do a lot of my math in my head. I use the ratio proportion method and am very proficient with it. However, it is becoming increasingly clear to me that I need to learn this in order to communicate with my classmates and instructors. I figure if I'm interested in leadership or education as a future pathway I will need to know this because this is what the schools are using. Some of the instructors don't seem to know how to use ratio proportion. I am mostly having trouble moving my brain into this method. I like the multiple step method with ratio proportions so I can see where I made a mistake at each step. I never used cross division short cuts in algebra either. About the extent of short cuts for me was knocking off 0s as placeholders. I feel like that is my hold up with this. Anyhow, any help on getting my brain to learn another method. I feel like retraining my brain is just hard. And I do know other posts have been made on this. I'm mostly looking on info too on how to retrain your brain. I am always afraid to do DA because Im afraid I'll get it wrong and I am afraid I will make mistakes that way. Would it be bad to do it both ways to start with? I don't know.

Thanks

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    For me DA is best when needing to working a problem step by step to get units exactly how you need them. You simply keep getting rid of units in each step until you have what the problem is asking for and then do the math: example - Dr. orders NTG 5 mcg/min IV and the medication is supplied as 50 mg in 500 mL NS.. what drip rate in mL/hr would you set?

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    there are websites to assist with this method, but to answer your question, what you want is a right answer, not conformity with students and instructors. Unless they are forcing you to do it their way, stick to what you are good at doing.

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    Frankly I use the method I am accustom to. when I help students here I still check it my way. Try this link....http://www.davesems.com/files/drug_dose_calculations.pdf

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    • Author
    there are websites to assist with this method, but to answer your question, what you want is a right answer, not conformity with students and instructors. Unless they are forcing you to do it their way, stick to what you are good at doing.

    This is they way they are showing all the explanations in class. So far I have not been outright "forced" to learn it, but when they explain things I honestly don't understand anything they are saying. I don't care so much if I can do it there way, but if I can understand it.

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    • Author
    Frankly I use the method I am accustom to. when I help students here I still check it my way. Try this link....http://www.davesems.com/files/drug_dose_calculations.pdf

    Thank you. After I posted this my husband assured me he could teach me how to do it. This is how he does math. I just didn't realize it because he didn't call it by the same name. He always calls it the railroad track method. It's funny because when we help the kids with math some of the kids go to him and some to me. He said if I can do ratio proportion he can show me how to set it up the other way. As long as I know how to do it and can understand what the instructors are saying I am good.

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    YouTube can be my best friend sometimes lol!

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