Final answer:
The patient should be charged a total of $22.45, which includes the cost of 15 capsules at $13.50, the ointment base at $3.95, and a $5.00 dispensing fee.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate how much the patient should be charged for their prescription, we need to break down the cost of each component of the prescription and then add them together along with the dispensing fee.
Step 1: Calculate the cost of the capsules
Since 50 capsules cost $45.00, the cost per capsule is $45.00 ÷ 50 = $0.90. Therefore, 15 capsules would cost 15 × $0.90 = $13.50.
Step 2: Calculate the cost of the ointment base
There are 454 grams in one pound. If 120 grams are required and the cost is $15.00 per pound, the cost for 120 grams is:
120 gm ÷ (1 pound / 454 gm) × $15.00 per pound = $3.95 (rounded to two decimal places).
Step 3: Add the dispensing fee
The dispensing fee is $5.00.
Step 4: Calculate the total charge
The total cost to the patient would be the sum of the costs of the capsules, ointment base, and dispensing fee. Thus, the total charge is $13.50 (capsules) + $3.95 (ointment base) + $5.00 (dispensing fee) = $22.45.