Christmas calculations

02 December 2019
Volume 1 · Issue 12

Some medicines are dosed on a mg/kg basis. As Christmas is approaching, here is a selection of holiday-themed calculations to keep you on top of your game this festive season. These use the same mathematical skills that are needed to calculate the total dose based on mg/kg.

QUESTION 1

Your turkey instructions advise you to cook the bird for 40 minutes per kg plus 20 minutes.

Calculate the cooking time for a turkey that weighs:

  • 3 kg
  • 4 kg
  • 4.5 kg
  • 5 kg

QUESTION 2

You are visiting relatives over Christmas who live 120 miles away.

Calculate the journey time if you travel at an average speed of:

  • 30 mph
  • 40 mph
  • 60 mph
  • 90 mph (eg by train!)

NOW TRY SOME MEDICINE CALCULATIONS:

QUESTION 3

Calculate the daily amount (in mg) of Drug A for a child weighing 15 kg if the prescribed dose is 1mg/kg daily.

QUESTION 4

Calculate how many mg of drug your patient will receive if you prescribe a dose of 2 mg/kg. Your patient weighs 70 kg.

QUESTION 5

What is the total daily amount of drug taken if the prescribed dose is 2.5 mg/kg three times a day? Your patient weighs 50 kg.

QUESTION 6

What is the total daily amount of drug taken if the prescribed dose is 5 mg/kg twice a day? Your patient weighs 60 kg.