MODULE 2: SYSTEM OF MEASUREMENT

METRIC SYSTEM: kg>g>mg>mcg

MEASURES OF WEIGHT Example 2:

These are solid measures o Order: 1.5 g

o Supply: 500 mg
o Gram=g
o You want to convert grams to milligrams
o Milligrams= mg
o 1.5 g> mg
o Micrograms=mcg
o The greater than sign tells you to move the decimal
o Kilogram= kg
point three places to the right
o 1.500= 1500
WEIGHT EQUIVALENTS o Therefore, 1.5g= 1500mg

Basic weight equivalents

o 1 kg= 100g
o 1 g= 1000 mg
o 1 mg= 1000 mcg
o To equal the weight of a single gram, you need 1000
grams
o To equal the weight of a single milligrams, you need
1000 mcg.

CONVERTING SOLID EQUIVALENTS

Example:

o Order: 0.25 g
o Supply: tablets labelled 125 mg

Since 1 g= 1000mg, you change 0.25 g to milligrams by CHANGING MILLIGRAMS TO GRAMS (mg to g) (LEFT)
multiplying the number of grams by 1000
o To divide by 1000, move the decimal point three places to
0.25 x 1000= 250.00 the left

o To convert the order, you use 0.25 g= 250 mg Example 1:

o Drop the trailing zeroes
o 100 mg= g
o LARGE TO SMALL- MULTIPLY BY 1000
o 100= 0.1
o SMALL TO LARGE- DIVIDE BY 1000
o 100 mg= 0.1g

CHANGING GRAMS TO MILLIGRAMS (g to mg) (RIGHT) Example 2:

o To multiply by 1000, move the decimal point three o 8 mg= g

places to the right o 008. = 0.008
o 8 mg= 0.008 g
Example 1:

o 0. 25 g= mg
o 0.250=250 MILLIGRAMS TO GRAMS QUICK METHOD
o 0.25 g= 250mg
1. First, write the order
Example 2: 2. Write the supply
3. Show which way the decimal point should move by
0.1 g= drawing a less than < sign.
4. Remember that in the equivalent 3g = 1000mg, the gram
0.100=100 is the larger measure.
0.1 g= 100 mg 5. Move the decimal point three places to the left.

Example 1:

GRAMS TO MILLIGRAMS QUICK METHOD o Order: 15 mg

o Supply: 0.03 g
1. First, write the order o You want to convert milligrams to grams
2. Write the supply o 15 mg< g
3. Show which way the decimal point should move by o The less than sign tells you to move the decimal point
drawing a greater than > sign. three places to the left
4. Remember that in the equivalent 1g= 1000mg, the gram is o 015.= 0.015
the larger measure, with 1000 mg equaling the weight of o Therefore, 15 mg= 0.015 g
1g
5. Move the decimal point three places to the right. Example 2:
Example 1: o Order: 500 mg
o Supply: 1g
o Order: 0.25g
o You want to convert milligrams to grams
o Supply: 125mg
o 500 mg< g
o You want to convert grams to milligrams
o The less than sign tells you to move the decimal point
o 0.25g> mg
three places to the left
o The grater than sign tells you to move the decimal
o 500.= 0.5
point three places to the right
o Therefore, 500mg= 0.5 g
o 0.250g=250g
o Therefore, 0.25g=250mg
 o 300 mcg= mg
o 300. = 0.3
o 300 mcg = 0.3 mg

Example 2:

o 50 mcg= mg
CHANGING MILLIGRAMS TO MICROGRAMS (mg to mcg) o 050. = 0.05
(RIGHT) o 50 mcg = 0.05 mg

o mg = 1000mcg MICROGRAMS TO MILLIGRAMS QUICK METHOD

o Some medications are so powerful that smaller
1. First, write the order
microgram doses are sufficient to produce a
2. Write the supply
therapeutic effect
3. Show which way the decimal point should move by
o To multiply by 1000, move the decimal point three
drawing a less than < sign.
places to the right
4. Remember that in the equivalent 1mg = 1000mcg, the
Example 1: milligram is the larger measure.
5. Move the decimal point three places to the left.
o 0.1 mg= mcg
o 0.100= 100mcg Example 1:
o 0.1 mg= 100 mcg o Order 100 mcg
Example 2: o Supply 0.1 mg
o Convert micrograms to milligrams
o 0.25 mg = mcg o 100mcg < mg
o 0.250= 250 o The less than sign tells you to move the decimal point
o 0.25 mg= 250 mcg three places to the left
o 100 = 0.1
o Therefore, 100 mcg = 0.1 mg
MILLIGRAMS TO MICROGRAMS QUICK METHOD
Example 2:
1. First, write the order
2. Write the supply o Order 50 mcg
3. Show which way the decimal point should move by o Supply 0.1 mg
drawing a greater than > sign. o Convert micrograms to milligrams
4. Remember that in the equivalent 1mg = 1000mcg, the o 50 mcg = mg
milligram is the larger measure, with 1000mcg equaling
o Mcg < mg
the weight of 1 mg.
o The less than sign tells you to move the decimal point
5. Move the decimal point three places to the right.
three places to the left
Example 1: o 050. = 0.05
o Therefore, 50 mcg = 0.05 mg
o Order: 0.1 mg
o Supply: 200 mcg
o Convert milligrams to
o 0.1 mg> mcg
o The greater than sign the decimal point three places
to the right
o 0.100=100
o Therefore, 0.1 mg= 100 mcg

Example 2:

o Order: 0.3 mg
o Supply 600 mcg
o Convert milligrams to micrograms
o 0.3 mg > mcg
o The greater than sign tells you to move the decimal
point three places to the right APOTHECARY SYSTEM
o 0.300=300
o Therefore, 0.3 mg= 300 mcg o Roman numerals usually are used to designed the
amounts
o Solid apothecary measure- THE GRAIN
o Abbreviated gr followed by a Roman number (gr v)

CHANGING MICROGRAMS TO MILLIGRAMS ((LEFT)

o To divide by 1000, move the decimal point three places to

the left.

Example 1
o Solid equivalents- apothecary & metric

o Equivalents between the metric & apothecary systems are

NOT exact
 o Cubic centimeter: cc
o Liquid equivalents in the metric system
o 1 mL = 1 cc
o 1 L= 1000 mL

LIQUID APOTHECARY MEASURES

o Minim: M or Mx or m
o Dram: 3 or dr
o Ounce: 3 or oz
o Drop: gtt

Liquid equivalents in the apothecary system

o 1 m= 1 gtt
Three apothecary equivalents require explanation o 1 dr= 4 mL
o 8 dr= 1 oz or fl oz
o gr x= 600 mg or 650 mg (50)
o gr v= 300 mg or 325 mg (25) CONVERSIONS AMONG LIQUID MEASURES
o gr I = 60 mg or 65 mg (5)
o 1 tsp
o 15 mL= 1 tbsp. = ½ fl oz= 4 dr
o 30 mL = 2 tbsp= 1 fl oz= 8 dr
 some drug companies manufacture 1 gr to equal to 65 mg o 500 mL = 1 pt
 both aspirin & acetaminophen are made this was o 1000 mL (1L)= 1 qt (2pt)
o 5 gr= 325 mg: 10 gr= 650 mg

HOUSEHOLD SYSTEM

 occasionally used in preparing doses

 equivalents between the metric & household system are
also NOT EXACT
o Teaspoon: tsp
o Tablespoon: tbsp.
o Ounce: oz (or fl oz= fluid ounce)
o Pint: pt
o Quart: qt
o Pound: lb
o 3 mL syringe
o 1 mL = 16 cm

o 1 “cc” = 1 mL

LIQUID MEASURES

Metric to Standard Conversions

OTHER CONVERSIONS

Temperature conversions

o To convert from Fahrenheit to centigrade

C = (F-32) + 1.8 or (F-32) x 5/9=

o To convert Centigrade to Fahrenheit F= (C x 1.8) + 32

o LITER
:L
o Milliliter: mL (ml)
MILLIUNIT & MILLIEQUIVALENT FRACTIONS, RATIO, PROPORTIONS

UNIT Fractions
o Show how to part (numerator) relates to the
whole (denominator)
Eg.
o 2/8 = 10/40 Two is to eight as ten is to forty

o Standard of measurement used with drugs such as

heparin & penicillin
o 1 milliunit = 1 thousandth of a unit

Eg. Oxytoxin (Pitocin)

o Used in obstetrics RATIO

o Administered in milliunits per minute o Indicates the relationship between two numbers
o 1:10

o United states Pharmacopeia (USP) units Eg.

5:30:: 6:36
o Used to measure a vitamin or drug Five is to thirty as six is to thirty-six
o Vitamin A & D
o USP unit is equal to an international unit
o International unit- used with vitamins A,C, D

PROPORTION
o Indicates a relationship between two ratios or two
fractions
Eg.
MILLIEQUIVALENT o Proportions written with two ratios & the double
o mEq or meg colon can be written as fractions
o Measure amount of solute per liter o 5:30:: 6:36 becomes
o Used when measuring different substances found in o 5/30 = 6/36
biologic fluids
Eg. Amount of potassium in blood (N 3.5 to .0 mEq per
liter)
Some medications are administered in mEq- potassium

SOLVING PROPORTIONS WITH AN UNKNOWN

o When one of the numbers in a proportion is unknown,
the letter x substitutes for that missing number.

Step 1: cross multiply

Step 2: clear x
Step 3: reduce
o 1/0.125 = X/0.25
o Cross multiply the numerators & denominators

o Clear x by dividing both sides of the equation with the

number that precedes x

SOLVING PROPORTIONS WITH AN UNKNOWN

 o Reduce the number

Example: Self-test: solving proportions

PROPORTIONS EXPRESSED AS TWO RATIOS

4: 3.2:: 7: X

Step 1: cross multiply the two outside numbers called

EXTREMES & the two inside numbers called MEANS.

Step
2: clear
x by

dividing both sides of the equation with the number that

precedes x.

Step 3: Reduce the number

Example
RATIO & PROPORTION IN DOSAGE:
AN INTRODUCTION

When the amount of the drug prescribed by a physician or

healthcare provider differs from the supply, you can solve the
dosage problem with proportion, using either two ratios or two
fractions.

Example:
o Order: 0.5 mg of a drug
o Supply: a liquid labeled 0.125 mg per 4 mL

o What amount of liquid is needed to equal 0.5 mg?

o Unknown x