Practice problems · Tablets and capsules · 5 worked
Tablet and capsule dosage calculation practice problems
An oral solid problem asks how many tablets or capsules make up one dose, given the order and the strength printed on the label. Two traps recur: an order written in milligrams against a label in micrograms, and a capsule, which cannot be split, so the answer has to come out whole.
The rounding rule on this page
Every answer here is rounded once, at the end, under one stated rule: nearest tenth, half rounds up, except tablets and capsules, rates in milliliters per hour and drip rates in drops per minute, which go to the nearest whole number, half rounds up. Your program's rule may differ, and on an exam it is the one that counts.
Work each problem on paper first, then open its solution. Each one is one of the 20 problems in DoseReady's Oral solid family, with the numbers the app drew for it.
No licensed clinician has reviewed the problem set. Where a problem and its source disagree, trust the source and what your program teaches.
Problem 1 of 5
The order reads metoprolol tartrate 50 mg by mouth twice daily. The pharmacy supplies scored metoprolol tablets of 50 mg each. How many tablets are given per dose?
Show the worked solution
Dimensional analysis
50 × 1 ÷ 50 = 1
Ratio and proportion
50 mg is to 1 tab as 50 mg is to x
50 × 1 ÷ 50 = 1
x = 1 tab
Formula method
- D (desired)
- 50 mg
- H (have)
- 50 mg
- Q (quantity)
- 1 tab
D ÷ H × Q
50 × 1 ÷ 50 = 1
- The working comes to
- 1 tab
- The answer under the stated rule
- 1 tab
- Nearest whole number, half rounds up, the stated rule for tablets and capsules.
What each slip gives here
- Decimal point one place out10 tab
- Conversion factor inverted2,500 tab
- Conversion skipped50 tab
What this problem is built from
Problem 2 of 5
The order reads spironolactone 100 mg by mouth daily. The bottle on hand supplies scored tablets of 50 mg each. How many tablets are given per dose?
Show the worked solution
Dimensional analysis
100 × 1 ÷ 50 = 2
Ratio and proportion
50 mg is to 1 tab as 100 mg is to x
100 × 1 ÷ 50 = 2
x = 2 tab
Formula method
- D (desired)
- 100 mg
- H (have)
- 50 mg
- Q (quantity)
- 1 tab
D ÷ H × Q
100 × 1 ÷ 50 = 2
- The working comes to
- 2 tab
- The answer under the stated rule
- 2 tab
- Nearest whole number, half rounds up, the stated rule for tablets and capsules.
What each slip gives here
- Decimal point one place out20 tab
- Conversion factor inverted5,000 tab
- Conversion skipped100 tab
What this problem is built from
Problem 3 of 5
The order reads amlodipine 10 mg by mouth daily. The tablets on hand are 5 mg each. How many tablets are given per dose?
Show the worked solution
Dimensional analysis
10 × 1 ÷ 5 = 2
Ratio and proportion
5 mg is to 1 tab as 10 mg is to x
10 × 1 ÷ 5 = 2
x = 2 tab
Formula method
- D (desired)
- 10 mg
- H (have)
- 5 mg
- Q (quantity)
- 1 tab
D ÷ H × Q
10 × 1 ÷ 5 = 2
- The working comes to
- 2 tab
- The answer under the stated rule
- 2 tab
- Nearest whole number, half rounds up, the stated rule for tablets and capsules.
What each slip gives here
- Decimal point one place out20 tab
- Conversion factor inverted50 tab
- Conversion skipped10 tab
Problem 4 of 5
The order reads amoxicillin 500 mg by mouth three times daily. The pharmacy supplies capsules of 250 mg each. A capsule cannot be divided. How many capsules are given per dose?
Show the worked solution
Dimensional analysis
500 × 1 ÷ 250 = 2
Ratio and proportion
250 mg is to 1 cap as 500 mg is to x
500 × 1 ÷ 250 = 2
x = 2 cap
Formula method
- D (desired)
- 500 mg
- H (have)
- 250 mg
- Q (quantity)
- 1 cap
D ÷ H × Q
500 × 1 ÷ 250 = 2
- The working comes to
- 2 cap
- The answer under the stated rule
- 2 cap
- Nearest whole number, half rounds up, the stated rule for tablets and capsules.
What each slip gives here
- Decimal point one place out20 cap
- Conversion factor inverted125,000 cap
- Conversion skipped500 cap
Problem 5 of 5
The order reads digoxin 0.25 mg by mouth daily. The pharmacy supplies digoxin tablets of 125 mcg each. How many tablets are given per dose?
Show the worked solution
Dimensional analysis
0.25 × 1,000 × 1 ÷ 1 ÷ 125 = 2
Ratio and proportion
Step 1
1 mg is to 1,000 mcg as 0.25 mg is to x
0.25 × 1,000 ÷ 1 = 250
x = 250 mcg
Step 2
125 mcg is to 1 tab as 250 mcg is to x
250 × 1 ÷ 125 = 2
x = 2 tab
Formula method
The formula method (D ÷ H × Q) does not fit this problem. The chain above is the working.
- The working comes to
- 2 tab
- The answer under the stated rule
- 2 tab
- Nearest whole number, half rounds up, the stated rule for tablets and capsules.
What each slip gives here
- Decimal point one place out20 tab
- Conversion factor inverted31,250 tab
- Conversion skipped250 tab
What this problem is built from
Practice under your own program's rules
In DoseReady you enter your program's passing score, notation and rounding rule once. Every answer is graded under that rounding rule, and each worked solution is written in your notation where the problem allows it.
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Exam practice, never for patient care.
Guides
Other problem families
- Unit conversion practice problems for nursing students
- Oral liquid dosage calculation practice problems
- Injectable dosage calculation practice problems
- Reconstitution dosage calculation practice problems
- mL per hr IV rate practice problems
- IV drip rate practice problems (gtt/min)
- Infusion time practice problems
- Weight-based dosing practice problems (mg/kg)