HELP!!!

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I need help with the following math problem. How would I set it up and what would the answer be? You are asked to administer 6mg of diazepam. it is packaged 5mg/ml.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

What do you think the answer would be?

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Would it be 30.

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Specializes in L&D/Maternity nursing.

how did you get to 30?

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ordered: 6 mg

have: 5 mg/ mL

6 mg/x x mL/ 5 mg = 6 / 5 mL = 1.2 mL

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Specializes in ER, ED.

In 5mg, there is one mL.... you know that you need 6mg, and need to find how many mL...set up an equation as follows:

5mg = 6mg

1mL xmL

Cross Multiply....

5x = 6

x = 1.2mL

Hope that makes sense!

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Desired dose (6mg) divided by dose on hand (5mg)

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Specializes in L&D/Maternity nursing.

I got 1.2 myself.

OP, can you show us your work so we can help point it out to you where you went wrong in your math?

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Would it be 30.

The thing to keep in mind as you're doing these problems is what are you trying to find out....so, in this case...if you think the answer might be 30...30 what...mg? mL? Then look at that answer and see if if passes the common sense rule (ie if there's 5 mg in 1mL...does it make sense for the answer to be 30mL for 6 mg?).

I don't don different formulas and such, I do straight dimensional analysis every time. so for this problem

6mg x 1mL/5mg=

So, the mg on the 6 and the 5 cancel out, which leaves your answer in mL (which is what you're looking for)

6x1 is 6 which we then divide by 5 which is 1.2mL.

By keeping track of what unit (ie mg, ml, etc) you're looking for, and making sure you assign units to every number...it can help to make sense of it all.

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