Pharmacy Technician PTCB Pharmacy Calculations 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A prescription reads 'Amoxicillin 500mg TID × 10 days.' How many capsules should be dispensed?
- 20 capsules
- 30 capsules (Correct answer)
- 10 capsules
- 15 capsules
Correct answer: 30 capsules
TID means three times daily; 3 doses/day × 10 days = 30 capsules total.
Question 2: A patient needs 250 mg of a drug. The available liquid is 125 mg/5 mL. How many mL should be given?
- 5 mL
- 15 mL
- 10 mL (Correct answer)
- 20 mL
Correct answer: 10 mL
Using ratio-proportion: 250 mg ÷ 125 mg × 5 mL = 10 mL.
Question 3: A prescription reads '1 tab BID × 14 days.' How many tablets should be dispensed?
- 14 tablets
- 21 tablets
- 28 tablets (Correct answer)
- 7 tablets
Correct answer: 28 tablets
BID means twice daily; 2 tablets/day × 14 days = 28 tablets.
Question 4: A prescription calls for 1 oz of a topical cream. How many grams should be dispensed?
- 15 g
- 28.35 g
- 30 g (Correct answer)
- 45 g
Correct answer: 30 g
In pharmacy, 1 ounce is equivalent to 30 grams for solid/semi-solid preparations.
Question 5: What does the Roman numeral 'XIV' equal in Arabic numerals?
- 16
- 14 (Correct answer)
- 40
- 11
Correct answer: 14
XIV = X (10) + IV (4) = 14; when a smaller value precedes a larger one, it is subtracted.
Question 6: A prescription reads 'i cap PO QID PRN pain.' How many times per day is the maximum dose?
- Once daily
- Twice daily
- Three times daily
- Four times daily (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Four times daily
QID means 'quater in die,' Latin for four times daily, so maximum 4 doses per day.
Question 7: A 240 mL bottle contains a suspension with a concentration of 250 mg/5 mL. What is the total drug content in the bottle?
- 6,000 mg
- 12,000 mg (Correct answer)
- 2,000 mg
- 1,200 mg
Correct answer: 12,000 mg
240 mL ÷ 5 mL × 250 mg = 48 × 250 = 12,000 mg total drug.
Pharmacy Technician PTCB Pharmacy Calculations 1
A prescription reads 'Amoxicillin 500mg TID × 10 days.' How many capsules should be dispensed?