Pharmacy unit conversions cheat sheet
Most conversion errors come from moving the decimal the wrong way. Learn a few anchors and check whether your answer should get bigger or smaller.
Method
- 1 g = 1,000 mg; 1 mg = 1,000 mcg; 1 L = 1,000 mL.
- 1 kg = 2.2 lb.
- 1 tsp = 5 mL; 1 tbsp = 15 mL; 1 fl oz ≈ 30 mL.
- °C = (°F − 32) × 5/9; °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32.
Worked examples
Example 1
Convert 750 mg to g. Round to 3 decimal places.
Show solution
- 1,000 mg = 1 g
- 750 mg ÷ 1,000 = 0.75 g
- Answer: 0.75 g
Answer: 0.75 g
Example 2
Convert 2,000 mg to g. Round to 3 decimal places.
Show solution
- 1,000 mg = 1 g
- 2,000 mg ÷ 1,000 = 2 g
- Answer: 2 g
Answer: 2 g
Example 3
Convert 37 °C to °F. Round to one decimal place.
Show solution
- °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32
- (37 × 9/5) + 32 = 66.6 + 32 = 98.6 °F
- Answer: 98.6 °F
Answer: 98.6 °F
Tips
- Going to a smaller unit (g → mg) makes the number bigger.
- Always write a leading zero (0.5 mg) and never a trailing zero (5 mg, not 5.0 mg).
Practise with unlimited problems like these
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Start practicing freePrefer paper? Our Pharmacy Technician Math Workbook has 1,000 practice calculations with step-by-step solutions, for pharmacy technician students. Also on Kindle.