Module 1-Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Calculations
Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Calculations
 Read the discussion on fractions, percentage,
ratio and proportion dimensional analysis and
significant figures
 View the link given for additional information
on fractions, decimals and percent.
 Solve the practice exercises in this module
(follow the instruction given under module 0).
 Be ready with your answers and solutions to the
practice exercises for our google meet
(Synchronous session:2nd meeting). This will be
your graded recitation.
 At the end of this module you are expected to
 Apply fractions in Pharmaceutical Calculations
 Convert fractions and percentage to their
equivalent expressions.
 Solve problems using ratio and proportion or
dimensional analysis.
 Explain the importance of significant figures to
the precision and accuracy of data
measurements.
Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Calculations
Learning Activities
Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Calculation Phar. Calc.
15th ed pp 11
- have denominators other
than 10 or any power of 10 (as 100, 1000 etc).
Exs. 4/5, 45/60, 325/500
- have 10 or any power of 10 as
the denominator
Exs. 8/10, 25/100, 55/1000 (usually written as decimal
numbers as 0.8, 0.25, 0.055)
(HOW TO CONVERT COMMON FRACTION TO DECIMAL
FRACTION AND VICE VERSA?)
- divide the numerator by the denominator
then express the quotient (decimal number) in fraction
form (decimal fraction)
Exs. a) 4/5 ---> 0.8 ---> 8/10
b) 24/400 ----> 0.06 ---> 6/100
Note: the number of decimal places in the
quotient will indicate the number of zeros in the
denominator of the decimal fraction.
- find the Greatest Common Factor (GCF) and
divide both numerator and denominator by the GCF
Exs, a) 45/100 (GCF is 5) = 9/20
b) 240/1000 (GCF is 40) = 6/25
Practice Exercises 1.1
1.1.1 Common fraction to decimal fraction
a) 7/3500 b) 45/900 c) 65/13000
1.1.2 Decimal fraction to common fraction
a) 0.225 b) 0.035 c) 0.00125
-means in a hundred or per 100
Exs. 30% means 30 in 100; 2% mean 2 per 100
 - divide the numerator by the denominator - defined as the equality of two ratios. and may be
and multiply the quotient by 100. written in any one of three standard forms.

Exs. a) 3/5 ----> 0.6 x 100 = 60% a) a:b = c:d b) a:b :: c:d c) a/b = c/d

b) 7/10 ---> 0.7 x 100 = 70% read as "a is to b as c is to d"

c) 36/400 ---> 0.09 x 100 9% - a and d are called extremes (outer members)
and b and c the means (middle members)

- the product of the means is equal to the

- express percent in fraction form then product of the extremes
reduce to lowest term.
- a missing term can be solved if the other three
Example: a) 20% ---> 20/100 ---> (GCF is 20) = 1/5 terms are known using the following equations;
b) 45% ---> 45/100 ---> (GCF is 5) = 9/20 a = bc/d b = ad/c c= ad/b d= bc/a
Practice Exercise EXAMPLE:

a) If 3 tablets contain 975 milligrams of aspirin, how

a) 3/4 b)5/25 c) 1/125 many milligrams should be contained in 12 tablets?

1.2.2 percent to fraction 3 tablets:975 mg =12 tablets : x mg -----> 3 tablets x x

mg = 12 tablets x 975 milligrams -----> x mg = 12
a) 12.5% b) 0.25% c) 3.125% tablets x 975 mg / 3 tablets ------> x = 3900 mg

b) If a 120 ml of a medicated syrup contains 15 grains of

an active ingredient, how many grains will be contained
defined as the relative amount of two quantities
in a 5 ml dose ?
Example: 1:2 (read as 1 is to 2) ; 20:4 (read as 20 is to 4)
120 ml: 15 gr =5 ml x x gr -----> 120 ml x x gr = 15 gr x 5
- may be written in fraction form as 3/4 but read as 3 ml -----> x gr = 15 gr x 5 ml / 120 ml -----> x= 0.625 gr
is to 4 with 3 referred to as the first term and 4 as the
second term Practice Exercises:

- the value of a ratio is the quotient of the first term 1.4 Ratio and Proportion
divided by the second term. a) # 8 b) #12 c) # 15 on p 8 PCal 15th ed
Exs. a) 1: 2 -the value is 0.5

b) 20:4 - the value is 5 - also known as factor analysis, factor-label method,

c) 3:4 - the value is 0.75 or unit-factor method

- when two ratios have the same value, they are - this method involves the logical sequencing and
termed as equivalent ratios. Equivalent ratios provide placement of a series of ratios (termed factor) into an
the basis for problem solving by ratio and proportion equation. The ratios are prepared from the given data
method. as well as

Exs. 2/4 = 4/8 (value of 2/4 is 0.5 and that of 4/8 is also 0.5 - from selected conversion factors and contain both
so they are equivalent ratios). arithmetic quantities and their units of measurement.

1. Identify the wanted unit of the answer and
place it at the beginning of the equation.
2. Identify the given quantity(ies) and its (their)
unit (s) of measurement.
3. Identify the conversion factor (s) that is (are)
needed for the "unit path" to arrive at the arithmetic
answer in the unit wanted.
4. Set up the ratios (or terms) such that the
cancellation of the units of measurement in the
numerators and denominators will retain only the
wanted unit as identified
IN STEP 1. NOTE: SOME OF THE THE RATIOS OR TERMS ARE ARE
INVERTED (TO THEIR RECIPROCALS) TO PERMIT CANCELLATION OF
LIKE UNITS IN THE NUMERATORS AND DENOMINATORS AND
LEAVE ONLY THE DESIRED UNIT FOR THE ANSWER.
5. Perform the arithmetic computation by
multiplying the numerators, multiplying the
denominators and dividing the product of the
numerators by the product of the denominators.
EXAMPLES:
a.)How many fluidounces (floz) are there in 2.5 liters (L)
? it position
Steps:
1. the unit required for the answer is fluidounce )floz)
2. the given quantity is 2.5 liters
3. no equivalent for liter to fluidounce so convert liter --
---> ml ------> floz (equivalents to use are: 1 L = 1000 ml
and 1 floz = 29.57 ml)
4. floz = 2.5 L X 1000 ml/ 1L X 1 floz/29.57 ml = 84.55
floz (Note : the equivalent 1 L = 1000 ml is inverted)
b) A medication order calls for 1000 ml Dextrose IV
infusion to be administered over an 8 - hour
period. Using an IV administration set that delivers 10
drops
(gtt) per ml, how many drops per minute
(gtt/min) should be delivered to the patient?
Steps:
1. the unit required for the answer is dropper minute
(gtt/min)
2. the given quantities are: 1000 ml/8 hrs and 10
gtt/ml
3. equivalents to be used: 1 hr = 60 min 1 ml = 10 gtt
4. gtt/min = 1000 ml/8 hr x 10 gtt/ml x 1 hr/ 60 min ---
--> 10,000/480 gtt/min -----> = 20.83 or 21 gtt/min
Practice Exercises:
1.5 Dimensional Analysis (ON P9 pcAL 15TH ED)
a) #28 b) # 29 c) # 30
- are consecutive figures that express the value of
a denominate number accurately enough for a given
purpose.
- digits other than zero are significant
Exs. 23.45 has 4 significant figures while 1.2345 has 5
significant figures.
- whether zero is significant, however, depends on
a) any zero between digit is significant
Ex. 20.05 (has 4 significant figure). 21.005 (has 5
significant figure.
b) initial zeros to the left of the first digit are
not significant, they merely show the location of the
decimal point.
Exs. in 0.5, 0.005 and 0.0005 there is only one
significant figure
c) one or more final zeros to the right of the
decimal point may be taken to be significant. Ex. 0.0650
has 3 significant figures, 0.030050 has 5 significant
figures.
Practice Exercise
1.6 Significant figures (on p 12 of PCal 15th ed)
a) # 1 a to f b) #2 a to e