A dose calls for 0.2 mg/kg; the patient weighs 150 kg. What is the total dose?

A dose calls for 0.2 mg/kg; the patient weighs 150 kg. What is the total dose?

• A. 3 mg
• B. 150 mg
• C. 60 mg
• D. 30 mg

Answer: (D)

Multiply the dose per kilogram by the patient’s weight to get the total dose. With 0.2 mg/kg and 150 kg, you calculate 0.2 mg/kg × 150 kg. 0.2 × 150 = 30, and the units give 30 mg. A quick check: 0.2 × 100 = 20 and 0.2 × 50 = 10, add up to 30 mg. The total dose is 30 mg. Options that are much smaller or larger would require a different weight or a different per-kilogram dose.

Multiply the dose per kilogram by the patient’s weight to get the total dose. With 0.2 mg/kg and 150 kg, you calculate 0.2 mg/kg × 150 kg. 0.2 × 150 = 30, and the units give 30 mg. A quick check: 0.2 × 100 = 20 and 0.2 × 50 = 10, add up to 30 mg. The total dose is 30 mg. Options that are much smaller or larger would require a different weight or a different per-kilogram dose.