Final answer:
To find the initial volume of Taylor's medicine, we calculate the volume per dose after 8 days, which is 180ml for the remaining 12 doses, to be 15ml per dose. By then adding the amount taken (8 doses × 15ml) to the volume left (180ml), we find that the medicine initially contained 300ml.
Step-by-step explanation:
Taylor is taking medicine that has 20 doses, and she takes 1 dose a day. After 8 days, she has 180ml left.
To calculate how many milliliters were in the medicine before she started taking it, first, we need to determine the amount she has used.
Since there are 20 doses in total and she has taken a dose for 8 days, we can subtract 8 from 20 to find the number of doses left, which is 12 doses.
Taylor has 180ml left for the remaining 12 doses.
Let's suppose that each dose is of equal volume. We can divide the remaining volume by the number of doses left to find the volume per dose: 180ml ÷ 12 doses = 15ml per dose.
Now that we know each dose is 15ml, we can calculate the total initial volume of the medicine. She has taken 8 doses which are 8 doses × 15ml/dose = 120ml.
Therefore, the initial volume is the sum of the volume taken and the volume left: 120ml + 180ml = 300ml total.