Assume the recommended single dose of an antihistamine for a child weighing $36-47 lbs$ is 1.50 teaspoons (tsp). If 1.00 tsp contains 12.5 mg per 5 mL of the active ingredient in the antihistamine, how many milligrams of active ingredient does the recommended dose for a child weighing 36-47 lbs contain? Assume that $1.00 tsp =5 mL$.
active ingredient: $\square$ mg
Answer (1)
The recommended dose is 1.50 tsp.
1 tsp contains 12.5 mg of active ingredient.
Multiply 1.50 tsp by 12.5 mg/tsp to find the total amount of active ingredient.
The recommended dose contains 18.75 mg of active ingredient.
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are given that the recommended dose of antihistamine for a child weighing 36-47 lbs is 1.50 teaspoons (tsp). We also know that 1.00 tsp contains 12.5 mg of the active ingredient. Our goal is to find out how many milligrams of the active ingredient are in the recommended dose.
Calculating the Active Ingredient To find the amount of active ingredient in 1.50 tsp, we multiply the amount of active ingredient in 1 tsp by 1.50.
Finding the Solution So, we calculate 1.50 tsp × 12.5 mg/tsp . The result of this calculation is 18.75 mg.
Final Answer Therefore, the recommended dose for a child weighing 36-47 lbs contains 18.75 mg of the active ingredient.
Examples
Imagine you're baking a cake and need to measure ingredients. If a recipe calls for 1.5 teaspoons of vanilla extract, and you know that 1 teaspoon contains 12.5 mg of a certain flavoring compound, you can calculate the total amount of the flavoring compound in your dose of vanilla extract. This is similar to calculating medication dosages, where precise measurements are crucial for effectiveness and safety. Understanding proportions and unit conversions helps ensure accurate results in both cooking and medication administration.
