thank you so much! this chart helps me visualize information from word problems. usually i get stuck trying to figure out what the questions are asking for. awesome video!!! definitely will share this with everyone in my pharmacy tech class.
Thank you for sharing! I'm currently taking a pharmacy tech class and have been struggling to understand how to find different concentrations. I get it now! I'll be sharing this video with other people in my class!
Hello, Thank you for the time you are takeing to make these videos. I'm at a online school and the books are ok but they don't cover everything as clean and precise as you have. A real god send :)
Thank you sooo much! The book made things so confusing but the chart makes things much more clear! I will be watching the rest of your video's. Thanks again!
Thank you! Im studying this very thing right now in my Pharmacy Technician online course and SEEING it done in front of me (well on the video) is helpful since Im unable to go through the same course in a physical classroom setting. Math is a really tough subject for me.
Hello! this is great! My only concern is the writting is super small, and I cant make it out but I was able to follow along by listening, great video thank you! Wish me luck on my test!!
Thank you Dr. Brad Wojcik for sharing this video. This is very helpful. Please continue to post more pharm. problems. Can you post more aseptic calculations.Thanks.
Thank You So Much.. This video is really helpful.. Its easy for me to picture out the problem this way and apply it in real setting. It does make sense. Now I realize that its important to go back to the basics.. What is Ask? What is given? kind of stuff. :)
Hi Charles, Sometimes conversion can be confusing. If you remember these basic concepts, maybe it will help.1) when you convert units you are never changing the actual amount, you are only renaming it. If you convert 1 dollar to 100 cents, you have the same amount of money, you just renamed it. 2) Set your problem by writing down the units of the answer on the right side of the equal sign. Write down what will be converted on the left side, then multiple it by (see part 2)
Hi Stacy, Thanks for the nice comment. I know some of the pharmacy math books out there are confusing, that is why I ended up writing my own book. You can download it on the main page along with some exercises. Let me know if you have any questions. -Dr. Brad
You can download my book, Pharmacy Calculations for Pharmacy Technicians: Solving Pharmacy Calculation Problems Without All the Silly Formulas, for free at payhip.com/b/5xVY. It goes into more detail than possible on the videos and is full of practice problems and answers.
a conversion factor so that the units given (what you are converting) are canceled out and you are left with the units of the answer. Remember, all conversion factors always = 1. 2 g (1000 mg/1 g) = 2000 mg. The g on top and bottom cancel each other out. You are left with mg in the answer. 1000mg/1g = 1
Hello! I am a pharmacy student at first stage, I just wanna say that I study pharmacy math by “pharmaceutical calculations” book and now I study the powder problems and actually I find it hard in this book, can you send me the link of your book? Because I have a final exam after about 10 days so I need it because I find this chapter in my book looks confusing and thanks in advance :D Any advice for me?
Hi mr. Brad Wojcik, can you help me with this math problem. what is the final strengh of a product that was compounded by combining 200g of 5% ointment and 100g of 1% ointment??
Ana Angel Hi Ana. These problems are actually pretty easy if you go back to the basics. To find the strength of a product you need to know the amount of the active ingredient and the amount of the final product. After you mix the two together you will have 300 g, so that part is really easy. Now, now many grams of active ingredient do you have in the final product? Well you had 10 g from the 200 g (200g oint(5 g AI/100g Oint) = 10 g. and you had 1 g from the 100 g, so you have 11 g active ingredient in 300 g of oint. Now change to a percentage by multiplying by 100%. (11g AI/300g oint) (100%) = 3.67%. Hope this helps and thanks for the question.
one more question humulin N 100units/ml 10ml vials area available. the patient has a prescrition that reads 10units QAM and 15UNITS PM. how many days will vial last?
+Ana Angel Hi Ana. This problem is done like all the other problems (conversions, dosage problems, etc). There are three things to look for, the units of the answer, the given and the ratios. In this case the given is 1 vial and the units of the answer are days. They are saying, "Here is 1 vial, tell me how many days it will last." The ratios are the tools you will use to change 1 vial into days. The ratios are 10 mL/1 vial, 100 units;/1 mL, 1 day/25 units. Now just line everything up like a little puzzle. 1 vial (10mL/1 vial)(100 units/1 mL)(1 day/25 units)= 40 days. See how all the units cancel out except days? It takes a little practice, but once you learn this method you will see it is very easy and you won't have to remember any formulas. Most problems that don't involve mixing or diluting things can be done this way.
One such question in my study guide goes as follows: 2 g of a drug are in a total of 10 ml of solution. How many grams of drug are in 8 ml of the solution? I thought I had it figured out but then somehow got really confused and frustrated. The other questions are along the same lines.
Lisa K Hi Lisa. This is a good example of a problem which can be solved either with ratio proportion or dimensional analysis. If you use dimensional analysis there are always 3 parts to the problem. 1) the given, the units of the answer and a ratio. In this case the given is 8 mL. They are saying, "Here is 8 mL, tell me how many grams are in it.". The units of the answer are g, the ratio is 2g/10 ml. Just put them together so the units of the given are canceled out and you end up with the units of the answer. 8 ml (2g/10ml) = 1.6 g. Using ratio proportion, you set up two ratios. 2g/10 ml = Xg/8 mL and solve for x. x= 1.6 g. I like dimensional analysis because it can be used on all conversion problems, dosage problems, drip rate problems. Always them same thing, just different units.
Lisa K Once you understand that you are doing the same thing over and over, multiplying by various forms of 1 to change the units of the given into the units of the answer, it will be very easy for you. In this case, 2g/10 ml = 1. It is sometimes hard to understand, but 10 mL of the solution = 2 g of the drug, right? so 10 mL = 2 g. Anything divided by itself is 1. If you just learn this one concept, everything will be easy.
Brad Wojcik Thank you. My husband said he would help me too...and I have a close friend who, like yourself, is a pharmacist. Who better to get help with pharm tech studies than a pharmacist. :) Thanks again!
Brad Wojcik Will do. I added you to my google circles. So far its the math that is really kicking my behind. Its always been my weakest subject but Ive come too far to quit. I just am determined to learn this. Far too many incompetent pharmacy techs. The case of Emily Jerry (theres a video about what happened with her on you tube) really shook me up....what if that happened to me? :/
I keep using these for a refresher. I know they are helping me immensely!
thank you so much! this chart helps me visualize information from word problems. usually i get stuck trying to figure out what the questions are asking for. awesome video!!! definitely will share this with everyone in my pharmacy tech class.
+BeccaBoo Leeder Hi Becca. Glad I could help. You and your class can email me at brad.wojcik@gmail.com if you have any specific questions.
Thanks Dr Brad! Your lesson helped me big time on a final exam. You're a very good teacher.
Thank you for sharing! I'm currently taking a pharmacy tech class and have been struggling to understand how to find different concentrations. I get it now! I'll be sharing this video with other people in my class!
Glad I could help. You should download my book at Payhip.com/b/5xVY
Hello, Thank you for the time you are takeing to make these videos. I'm at a online school and the books are ok but they don't cover everything as clean and precise as you have. A real god send :)
Thank you sooo much! The book made things so confusing but the chart makes things much more clear! I will be watching the rest of your video's. Thanks again!
this was great! the way you showed me gave me a better understanding on how to solve for powder volume
Christina, glad it helped and thanks for the nice comment.
I'll definitely have to let the new calculations class know about your videos!
THANK YOU! I couldn't find anything online to help me with these problems.
Glad you found it helpful.
Thank you! Im studying this very thing right now in my Pharmacy Technician online course and SEEING it done in front of me (well on the video) is helpful since Im unable to go through the same course in a physical classroom setting. Math is a really tough subject for me.
Lisa K Glad it helped.
Hello! this is great! My only concern is the writting is super small, and I cant make it out but I was able to follow along by listening, great video thank you! Wish me luck on my test!!
Thank you Dr. Brad Wojcik for sharing this video. This is very helpful. Please continue to post more pharm. problems. Can you post more aseptic calculations.Thanks.
I thought I had seen all your videos. thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us,
Thank You So Much.. This video is really helpful.. Its easy for me to picture out the problem this way and apply it in real setting. It does make sense. Now I realize that its important to go back to the basics.. What is Ask? What is given? kind of stuff. :)
Glad I could help. You might want to download my book at Payhip.com/b/5xVY
Hi Charles,
Sometimes conversion can be confusing. If you remember these basic concepts, maybe it will help.1) when you convert units you are never changing the actual amount, you are only renaming it. If you convert 1 dollar to 100 cents, you have the same amount of money, you just renamed it. 2) Set your problem by writing down the units of the answer on the right side of the equal sign. Write down what will be converted on the left side, then multiple it by (see part 2)
great video Dr. Brad!!! :)
Hi Stacy,
Thanks for the nice comment. I know some of the pharmacy math books out there are confusing, that is why I ended up writing my own book. You can download it on the main page along with some exercises. Let me know if you have any questions.
-Dr. Brad
This is nice dr brad;) awesome!!!
Also, I think it would be helpful if you download the handout book from the main page.
Hey Doc, can you make a video that addresses this video's concept please? This series is called the PTCB review... I had to send the link via e-mail.
Such a good help! Thanks!!
Hi Jorge, Glad I could help. Let me know if you have any questions.
Brad Wojcik
Hi Brad,
Can you please send me the link to the pdf calculation book you have produced would be a great help, mate
thanks
dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47515062/Pharm%20120%20Handouts%20Book%20third%20ed%20Jan%202013nh.docx
Thank you my friend, much appreciated..you make a good teacher :)
Thanks.
You can download my book, Pharmacy Calculations for Pharmacy Technicians: Solving Pharmacy Calculation Problems Without All the Silly Formulas, for free at payhip.com/b/5xVY. It goes into more detail than possible on the videos and is full of practice problems and answers.
a conversion factor so that the units given (what you are converting) are canceled out and you are left with the units of the answer. Remember, all conversion factors always = 1.
2 g (1000 mg/1 g) = 2000 mg. The g on top and bottom cancel each other out. You are left with mg in the answer. 1000mg/1g = 1
Thank you! My dream is to have as many views as some of those crazy cat videos.
Hello!
I am a pharmacy student at first stage, I just wanna say that I study pharmacy math by “pharmaceutical calculations” book and now I study the powder problems and actually I find it hard in this book, can you send me the link of your book? Because I have a final exam after about 10 days so I need it because I find this chapter in my book looks confusing and thanks in advance :D
Any advice for me?
Hi mr. Brad Wojcik, can you help me with this math problem. what is the final strengh of a product that was compounded by combining 200g of 5% ointment and 100g of 1% ointment??
Ana Angel
Hi Ana. These problems are actually pretty easy if you go back to the basics. To find the strength of a product you need to know the amount of the active ingredient and the amount of the final product. After you mix the two together you will have 300 g, so that part is really easy. Now, now many grams of active ingredient do you have in the final product? Well you had 10 g from the 200 g (200g oint(5 g AI/100g Oint) = 10 g. and you had 1 g from the 100 g, so you have 11 g active ingredient in 300 g of oint. Now change to a percentage by multiplying by 100%. (11g AI/300g oint) (100%) = 3.67%. Hope this helps and thanks for the question.
thank you so much. the firts steps l did it but l couldn't got the answer because l didn't multiply by 100. but thanks.
OK, so you did most of the problem, which is great. Remember, the last step is to multiply by 100%, not 100. Let me know if you need anymore help.
one more question humulin N 100units/ml 10ml vials area available. the patient has a prescrition that reads 10units QAM and 15UNITS PM. how many days will vial last?
+Ana Angel Hi Ana. This problem is done like all the other problems (conversions, dosage problems, etc). There are three things to look for, the units of the answer, the given and the ratios. In this case the given is 1 vial and the units of the answer are days. They are saying, "Here is 1 vial, tell me how many days it will last." The ratios are the tools you will use to change 1 vial into days. The ratios are 10 mL/1 vial, 100 units;/1 mL, 1 day/25 units. Now just line everything up like a little puzzle. 1 vial (10mL/1 vial)(100 units/1 mL)(1 day/25 units)= 40 days. See how all the units cancel out except days? It takes a little practice, but once you learn this method you will see it is very easy and you won't have to remember any formulas. Most problems that don't involve mixing or diluting things can be done this way.
I'm not sure if you'll see this but im lost on how you got 100 ml from 5000 and the ratio.
It is 5000 mg (5 mL/250 mg) = 100 mL
Thanks Igan!
Ha ha ha Dr. Brad. Those are some crazy cat videos! ;)
Thank you!
One such question in my study guide goes as follows: 2 g of a drug are in a total of 10 ml of solution. How many grams of drug are in 8 ml of the solution? I thought I had it figured out but then somehow got really confused and frustrated. The other questions are along the same lines.
Lisa K Hi Lisa. This is a good example of a problem which can be solved either with ratio proportion or dimensional analysis. If you use dimensional analysis there are always 3 parts to the problem. 1) the given, the units of the answer and a ratio. In this case the given is 8 mL. They are saying, "Here is 8 mL, tell me how many grams are in it.". The units of the answer are g, the ratio is 2g/10 ml. Just put them together so the units of the given are canceled out and you end up with the units of the answer. 8 ml (2g/10ml) = 1.6 g. Using ratio proportion, you set up two ratios. 2g/10 ml = Xg/8 mL and solve for x. x= 1.6 g. I like dimensional analysis because it can be used on all conversion problems, dosage problems, drip rate problems. Always them same thing, just different units.
Lisa K Once you understand that you are doing the same thing over and over, multiplying by various forms of 1 to change the units of the given into the units of the answer, it will be very easy for you. In this case, 2g/10 ml = 1. It is sometimes hard to understand, but 10 mL of the solution = 2 g of the drug, right? so 10 mL = 2 g. Anything divided by itself is 1. If you just learn this one concept, everything will be easy.
Brad Wojcik Thank you. My husband said he would help me too...and I have a close friend who, like yourself, is a pharmacist. Who better to get help with pharm tech studies than a pharmacist. :) Thanks again!
Ok, Let me know if you need any help and how you are doing.
Brad Wojcik Will do. I added you to my google circles. So far its the math that is really kicking my behind. Its always been my weakest subject but Ive come too far to quit. I just am determined to learn this. Far too many incompetent pharmacy techs. The case of Emily Jerry (theres a video about what happened with her on you tube) really shook me up....what if that happened to me? :/
still having trouble with powder volumes there confusing
vial 50 mg add sterile solution 10 ml then diluted by 0.9% Na cl what is the final volume
what i have missed here?
The problem does not make any sense. Is there more to it?
Thank you Tina! My first comment.
thank you very much