Part 1: Conversions Review

Fractions
 A fraction indicates a portion of a whole number.
o The bottom number or denominator indicates the total number of parts into which the
whole is divided.
o The top number or numerator indicates how many of those parts are considered.
 There are two types of fractions:
o Common fractions, such as 1 (usually referred as fractions)
2
o Decimal fractions, such as 0.5 (usually referred as decimals).

 A fraction may also be read as the "numerator divided by the denominator".

Ex.: 1 (numerator) 1 = 1 part of 4 parts, or 1 of the whole
4 (denominator) 4 4

 The fraction 1 may also be read as "1 divided by 4";

4

Decimals
 Decimals, or decimal fractions are fractions with a denominator of 10, 100, 1000, or any
multiple of 10.
ex.: 0.5, or 5 ; 0.25, or 25
10 100

 Zeros added after the last digit of a decimal fraction do not change its value. Ex.: 0.25 =
0.250
 Zeros added between the decimal point and the first digit of a decimal fraction does change
its value. Ex.: 0.50 is not the same as 0.050

Rules for rounding decimals:

 When the last decimal is 4 or less, is been discarded, when the last decimal is 5 or more a
unit is added to the previous number.
Ex: 2.41 thru 2.44 = 2.4
2.45 thru 2.49 = 2.5
 In order to minimize calculation errors:
o Always place a zero in front of the decimal point when it is not preceded by a whole
number to emphasize the decimal point (example: 0.5 g instead of .5 g)
o Omit unnecessary zeros after the decimal point (example: 1.2 instead of 1.20)
 Ratios and Percentages

 Other expressions equivalent to fractions and decimals are ratios (1:1000, or 1_) and
percentages (50%). 1,000
 A ratio is used to indicate the relationship of one number to another. There are two ways to
express a ratio:
o Separating the numbers by a colon: 1:1,000
o Expressed as a fraction: 1_
1,000
 A percentage (meaning “parts per hundredth”) is a ratio which the second number, or
denominator, is 100. The percentage symbol (%) is used, instead of a colon, to indicate this
relation.
o Instead of 1:100: 1%
o 1% expressed as a fraction: 1_
100

Proportions

 A proportion indicates the relationship between two ratios

 A true proportion is two ratios that are equal to each other (an equation between two equal
rations).
o Ex.: 5 is to 10 as 1 is to 2

The above relationship can be expressed using fractions: 5 = 1 or using colons: 5:10::1:2
10 2

 Most of the calculations to be performed for dosage calculations require solving for an
unknown quantity X in a simple equation expressed as a proportion.
o Ex.: 5 is to 10 as 1 is to X

 When one of the quantities in a true proportion is an unknown quantity X, its value is found
by cross multiplying:
o Ex.: 3 = 1 or expressing ratio and proportion using colons: Ex.: 3:6::1:X
6 X

 then: X=6x1 X=2 or: 3 x X = 6 x 1 X= 6 x 1 X=2

3 3

*Remember: On a cross-multiplying calculation, the “opposite” to the X (3 on the above

example) is always the denominator.
 The Metric System

Weight: kilogram (kg); gram (g); milligram (mg); microgram (mcg)

1 kg = 1000 g
1 g = 1000 mg
1 mg = 1000 mcg
Volume: liter (L); milliliter (ml)
1 l = 1000 ml
Length: meter (m); centimeter (cm); millimeter (mm)
1 m = 1000 mm
1 m = 100 cm
1 cm = 10 mm

Metric units and their relation to each other

Length Volume Weight

1 kg
(1,000 g)
(0.001 kg)
1m 1L 1g
(100 cm or 1,000 mm) (1,000 ml) (1,000 mg)
(0.01 m)
1 cm
(10 mm)
(0.1 cm or 0.001 m) (0.001 L) (0.001 g)
1 mm 1 ml 1 mg
(1,000 mcg)
(0.001 mg)
1 mcg
 Sample Problems

Convert between different metric units. Choose the method that is more familiar to you.

Ex.: Convert 0.5 L into mL

 Moving the decimal point: Because mL is 1,000 times smaller than L, the decimal point is
moved 3 positions (as many zeros as 1,000 has) to the right (adding zeros as necessary)

0.5 L = 0500. mL After eliminating unnecessary zeros and decimal point: 500 mL

 Using a ratio-proportion approach:

1 L is to 1,000 mL as to 0.5 L is to X mL

o Using colons: 1:1,000::0.5:X then: 1 x X = 1,000 x 0.5

then: X = 1,000 x 0.5 X = 500 mL

1

o Cross multiplying: 1_= 0.5 then: X = 1,000 x 0.5 X= 500 ml

1,000 X 1

Ex.: Convert 50 cm into m

 Moving the decimal point: Because m is 100 times larger than cm the decimal point is moved
2 positions (as many zeros as 100 has) to the left (adding zeros and decimal point as
necessary)
50. cm = .50 m After eliminating unnecessary zeros and add a zero in front of the
decimal point: 0.5 m

 Using a ratio-proportion approach:

50 cm is to X m as 100 cm is to 1 m

o Using colons: 50:X::100:1 then: 50 x 1 = X x 100

then: 50 x 1 = X X = 0.5 m
100

o Cross multiplying: 50 cm = 100 cm then: X = 50 x 1 then: X= 0.5 m

Xm 1m 100