DECIMALS

Pharmacy uses primarily the metric system of measure, which is a decimal system. Thus, the majority of the calculations will deal with decimals. At times, it is necessary to change a fraction to a decimal to simplify a procedure

 

CONVERTING A FRACTION TO A DECIMAL

  1. To convert a FRACTION to a DECIMAL:
  2. Divide the denominator into the numerator.
Example: 1/2 => 1 : 2 => 0.5 MULTIPLYING A DECIMAL BY A NUMBER THAT IS A MULTIPLE OF 10

A. If a decimal is to be multiplied by a number that is a multiple of ten (10, 100, 1000, etc.), move the decimal point as many places to the RIGHT as there are zeros in the multiplier.

Example: When multiplying 0.2 times 100, move the decimal point one place to the RIGHT for each of the zeros of the multiplier. There are two zeros, therefore the decimal must be moved two places to the right. 0.2 x 100 => 20.0 => result is 20 DIVIDING DECIMALS BY MULTIPLES OF 10

A.If a decimal is to be divided by a multiple of ten (10, 100, 1000,etc.), move the decimal point as many places to the left as there are zeroes in the divisor.

Example:

When dividing 0.2 by 100, move the decimal point one place to the left for each of the zeros in the divisor (the number you are dividing Into the other number). There are two zeros, therefore, we move the decimal two places to the left.

0.2 : 100 => 0.00.2 the result is 0.002
Home