Question

What dosage in grams per kilogram of body weight does a 134 lb woman receive if she takes two 275 mg tablets of penicillin?

How many 150. mg tablets should a 31 lb child take to receive the same dosage?

Answer 1

• The dosage is 0.0906 g/kg

• The child should take 8.5 tablets to receive the same dosage

Step-by-step explanation:

First we convert 134 lb into kg:

• 1 lb = 0.453 kg

• 134 lb *
  `(0.453kg)/(1lb)` = 60.702 kg

Then we convert 275 mg into g:

• 1000 mg = 1 g

• 275 mg *
  `(1g)/(1000mg)` = 0.275 g

Now we can calculate the dosage in grams per kilogram of body weight, keeping in mind that two tablets are consumed:

• (0.275 g) * 2 / 60.702 kg = 0.0906 g/kg

As for the second part, first we convert 31 lb into kg:

• 31 lb *
  `(0.453 kg)/(1lb)` = 14.043 kg

Now we calculate how many penicillin grams should be consumed:

• 14.043 kg * 0.0906 g/kg = 1.27 g

We convert 1.27 g of penicilin into mg:

• 1.27 g * 1000 = 1270 mg

Finally we calculate how many 150 mg tables should be taken:

• 1270 mg / 150 mg = 8.5 tablets