Final answer:
The patient would take 3 tablets per day.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the number of tablets needed per day, considering the ordered dose of 196 mg three times a day (tid) and the availability of 56 mg scored tablets, divide the total daily dose (196 mg) by the tablet strength (56 mg). This results in 3.5 tablets, but since tablets cannot be divided, the patient would take 3 tablets per day.
In this scenario, it's important to recognize that while the calculated dose is 3.5 tablets, practical considerations such as the inability to split tablets necessitate rounding down to the nearest whole number. This ensures the patient receives the closest achievable dosage without compromising the accuracy of the prescription.