Calculations V: Exam-Style Math Practice
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
What molar ratio (salt:acid) would be required to make a buffer solution of sodium acetate and
acetic acid with pH of 5.76. The pKa of acetic acid is 4.76. (Round to nearest WHOLE number) -
CORRECT ANSWERS 10:1
CB is a patient on the medical floor. Earlier today D5 1/2NS + 40 mEq KCl was ordered to run at
75 ml/hr. Unfortunately, an error was made and her 1 liter bag has been running at only 45 ml/hr
for the past 4 hours. How many extra mEq of KCl will CB need to receive now to equal what she
would have gotten if the drip had been hanging at the correct rate for the past 4 hours? (Round to
nearest TENTH) - CORRECT ANSWERS 4.8 mEq
JM is a patient in the ICU (6'1" and 256 pounds). He is currently receiving a 3-in-1 PN at 115
mL/hr. The PN is 12.1% w/v dextrose and 4.7% w/v protein. The prescriber wants the patient's
protein intake from the PN to be 1.2 g/kg IBW per day. By how many grams will the current
protein content need to be reduced to achieve this? (Round to nearest WHOLE number.) -
CORRECT ANSWERS 34 g
How many milliliters of a 1:5000 (w/v) solution of boric acid can be made from 50 ml of a 0.4%
solution? (Round to nearest WHOLE number) - CORRECT ANSWERS 1000 ml
TH requires 1.5 g/kg/day of protein (based on his total body weight), which will be provided by
Aminosyn 15%. TH is a 62-year-old male (weight 89 kg, height 6'2") who is confined to bed
(activity factor 1.2) due to severe pneumonia (stress factor 1.6). How many milliliters of
Aminosyn 15% should he receive? (Round to nearest WHOLE number) - CORRECT
ANSWERS 890 ml
The clinical pharmacist in the Pediatric ICU is asked to determine what rate to run a child's IV at.
The IV contains 9 ml of 39.2% potassium acetate in normal saline to prepare a 1 l bag. The
, prescriber wants the child to receive 2.5 mEq/hr of potassium acetate. (MW of K=39; MW of
acetate=59). What rate (in ml/hr) would provide the desired mEq/hr of potassium acetate?
(Round to nearest WHOLE number) - CORRECT ANSWERS 69 ml/hr
Express 1:5000 as a percentage strength. (Round to nearest HUNDREDTH) - CORRECT
ANSWERS 0.02%
A pharmacist has a prescription for 30 ml of an eye drop that is to contain benzalkonium chloride
1:750 as a preservative. On the shelf the pharmacist finds 17% benzalkonium chloride. Using a
dropper that delivers 25 drops/ml, how many drops will be required to prepare this compound
formula? (Round to nearest WHOLE number) - CORRECT ANSWERS 6 drops
CB is receiving 1,150 ml of D30W, 860 ml of Aminosyn 8.5%, and 340 ml of Intralipid 10% in
his PN. What percentage of the non-protein calories are represented by dextrose? (Round to
nearest WHOLE number) - CORRECT ANSWERS 76%
A pharmacist is asked to compound 60 ml of an isotonic eye drop. Drug X (a liquid with an E-
value of 0.33) and sodium chloride will be used to prepare a final concentration of 1:500 (w/v).
How many milligrams of sodium chloride must be added to make the eye drops isotonic? (Round
to nearest WHOLE number) - CORRECT ANSWERS 500 ml
A patient has been receiving 400 ml of an enteral mixture that contains532 mOsm/l. The
pharmacist will reduce the contents to 380 mOsm/l. How many milliliters of bacteriostatic water
should be added to the current bag? (Round to nearest WHOLE number) - CORRECT
ANSWERS 160 ml
A 45 lb child with acute bacterial tonsillitis is to receive a cefdinir at 7 mg/kg/dose twice a day
for 5 days. Cefdinir comes in 250 mg/5 ml oral suspension. How many milliliters will this child
need per day? (Round to nearest WHOLE number) - CORRECT ANSWERS 6 ml
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
What molar ratio (salt:acid) would be required to make a buffer solution of sodium acetate and
acetic acid with pH of 5.76. The pKa of acetic acid is 4.76. (Round to nearest WHOLE number) -
CORRECT ANSWERS 10:1
CB is a patient on the medical floor. Earlier today D5 1/2NS + 40 mEq KCl was ordered to run at
75 ml/hr. Unfortunately, an error was made and her 1 liter bag has been running at only 45 ml/hr
for the past 4 hours. How many extra mEq of KCl will CB need to receive now to equal what she
would have gotten if the drip had been hanging at the correct rate for the past 4 hours? (Round to
nearest TENTH) - CORRECT ANSWERS 4.8 mEq
JM is a patient in the ICU (6'1" and 256 pounds). He is currently receiving a 3-in-1 PN at 115
mL/hr. The PN is 12.1% w/v dextrose and 4.7% w/v protein. The prescriber wants the patient's
protein intake from the PN to be 1.2 g/kg IBW per day. By how many grams will the current
protein content need to be reduced to achieve this? (Round to nearest WHOLE number.) -
CORRECT ANSWERS 34 g
How many milliliters of a 1:5000 (w/v) solution of boric acid can be made from 50 ml of a 0.4%
solution? (Round to nearest WHOLE number) - CORRECT ANSWERS 1000 ml
TH requires 1.5 g/kg/day of protein (based on his total body weight), which will be provided by
Aminosyn 15%. TH is a 62-year-old male (weight 89 kg, height 6'2") who is confined to bed
(activity factor 1.2) due to severe pneumonia (stress factor 1.6). How many milliliters of
Aminosyn 15% should he receive? (Round to nearest WHOLE number) - CORRECT
ANSWERS 890 ml
The clinical pharmacist in the Pediatric ICU is asked to determine what rate to run a child's IV at.
The IV contains 9 ml of 39.2% potassium acetate in normal saline to prepare a 1 l bag. The
, prescriber wants the child to receive 2.5 mEq/hr of potassium acetate. (MW of K=39; MW of
acetate=59). What rate (in ml/hr) would provide the desired mEq/hr of potassium acetate?
(Round to nearest WHOLE number) - CORRECT ANSWERS 69 ml/hr
Express 1:5000 as a percentage strength. (Round to nearest HUNDREDTH) - CORRECT
ANSWERS 0.02%
A pharmacist has a prescription for 30 ml of an eye drop that is to contain benzalkonium chloride
1:750 as a preservative. On the shelf the pharmacist finds 17% benzalkonium chloride. Using a
dropper that delivers 25 drops/ml, how many drops will be required to prepare this compound
formula? (Round to nearest WHOLE number) - CORRECT ANSWERS 6 drops
CB is receiving 1,150 ml of D30W, 860 ml of Aminosyn 8.5%, and 340 ml of Intralipid 10% in
his PN. What percentage of the non-protein calories are represented by dextrose? (Round to
nearest WHOLE number) - CORRECT ANSWERS 76%
A pharmacist is asked to compound 60 ml of an isotonic eye drop. Drug X (a liquid with an E-
value of 0.33) and sodium chloride will be used to prepare a final concentration of 1:500 (w/v).
How many milligrams of sodium chloride must be added to make the eye drops isotonic? (Round
to nearest WHOLE number) - CORRECT ANSWERS 500 ml
A patient has been receiving 400 ml of an enteral mixture that contains532 mOsm/l. The
pharmacist will reduce the contents to 380 mOsm/l. How many milliliters of bacteriostatic water
should be added to the current bag? (Round to nearest WHOLE number) - CORRECT
ANSWERS 160 ml
A 45 lb child with acute bacterial tonsillitis is to receive a cefdinir at 7 mg/kg/dose twice a day
for 5 days. Cefdinir comes in 250 mg/5 ml oral suspension. How many milliliters will this child
need per day? (Round to nearest WHOLE number) - CORRECT ANSWERS 6 ml
