Skills Guide
Numeracy for Health Care
Students
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Contents
Page nos.
Conversions illustration
p 5
Comparing grams (g) and milligrams
(mg)
p 6
Converting grams (g) to milligrams (mg)
p 7
Conversions ( g to mg) involving
moving the decimal point
p 9
Comparing milligrams (mg) and
micrograms (mcg)
p 10
Converting milligrams (mg) to
micrograms (mcg)
p 11
Conversions ( mg to mcg) involving
moving the decimal point
p 12
Converting micrograms (mcg) to
milligrams (mg)
p 14
Converting milligrams(mg) to grams (g)
p 17
Answers and Additional resources
p 20
3
Learning Outcomes
After using this guide you should be able to:

Convert between units of weight generally

Convert grams (g) to milligrams (mg)

Convert milligrams (mg) to grams (g)

Convert milligrams (mg) to micrograms (mcg)

Convert micrograms (mcg) to milligrams (mg)
Introduction
An example of each of the above conversions will be illustrated in this
guide, together with handy hints and tips to guide you through the
process. Following each type of conversion, there wi ll be several
conversions to practise .
4
To convert betw een units of w eight, the above diagram can be used
as a useful tool:
Converting grams(g) to milligrams(mg)
multipl y by 1 000
Converting milli grams(mg) to micrograms(mcg)
multipl y by 1 000
Converting micrograms(mcg) to milligrams(mg)
divide by 1 000
Converting milligrams(mg) to grams(g)
divide by 1 000
5
6
Converting grams(g) to milligrams (mg)
Example:
Convert 3 grams (g) in to milligrams (mg)
How many crisps (mg) would there be in 3 bags (g)
Solution:
Multiply by 1000
3 x 1 000
=
3 000 mg
7
Can you convert grams (g) to milligrams (mg) ?
Try these - How many milligrams (mg) are there in:
6 grams (g)
15 grams (g)
[Please refer to the answers on page 20 at the back of the guide]
8
Conversions involving moving the decimal point
Example:
Convert 0.325 grams (g) into milligrams (mg)
Solution:
0.325 x
1 000
0.3 2 5
.
Right reaps rewards
rewars rewar
move decimal points 3 places right
Tip: think 3 zeros in 1 000
Answer
= 325 mg
TIP: Does the answ er look right?
You w ould expect more mg (crisps) than bags of crisps (g)!
Can you convert grams (g) to milligrams (mg)?
Tr y these:
Convert 0.671 grams (g) into milligrams ( mg)
Change 0.05 grams (g) into milligrams (mg)
How many milligrams (mg) are in 3.4 grams (g) ?
9
[Please refer to the answers on page 20 at the back of the guide]
Comparing milligrams(mg) and micrograms(mcg)
milligrams (mg)
micrograms (mcg)
crisps
crumbs
1 crisp
=
1 000 crumbs
1 milligram (mg)
=
1 000 micrograms (mcg)
10
Converting milligrams (mg) to micrograms (mcg)
Example:
Convert 4 milligrams (mg) into micrograms (mcg)
[ How many crumbs (mcg) are in 4 cr isps (mg) ?]
Solution:
Multiply by 1 000:
4 x 1 000 =
4 000 mg
11
Can you convert milligrams (mg) to micrograms
(mcg) ?
Try these - How many micrograms (mcg) are there in:
6 mg
12 mg
[Please refer to the answers on page 20 at the back of the
guide.]
Conversions involving moving the decimal point
Example:
Convert 0.375 milligrams (mg) into micrograms (mcg)
still multiply by 1 000
Solution:
0.375 x
1 000
0.3 7 5
.
Right reaps rewards
rewars rewar
move decimal points 3 places right
12
Tip: think 3 zeros in 1 000
Answer
= 375 mcg
TIP: Does the answ er look right?
You w ould expect more m cg (crumbs) than crisps (mg)!
Can you convert milligrams (mg) to micrograms (mcg)?
Tr y these:
Convert 0.500 milligrams (mg) into micrograms (mcg)
Change 0.09 milligrams (mg) into micrograms (mcg)
How many micrograms (mcg) are in 2.5 milligrams (mg)?
[Please refer to the answers on page 21 at the back of the guide]
13
Converting micrograms(mcg) to milligrams
(mg)
Example:
Convert 8 000 micrograms (mcg) into milligrams (mg)
[How many ‘whole’ crisps would you make from 8 000 crumbs?]
Solution:
Divide by 1 000:
8 000 ÷ 1 000 = 8 mg ( i.e. 8 crisps)
14
Can you convert micrograms (mcg) to milligrams (mg) ?
Try these - How many milligrams (mg) are there in:
5 000 mcg
2 000 mcg
[Please refer to the answers on page 21 at the back of the guide]
Conversions involving moving the decimal point
still divide by 1 000
Example:
Convert 2 750 (micrograms) mcg into milligrams (mg)
Solution:
2750 ÷ 1 000
left is less
2. 7
5
0 .
÷
1 000
move decimal points 3 places left
15
Tip: think 3 zeros in 1 000
Answer
= 2.750 mg
TIP: Does the answ er look right?
You w ould expect less mg (crisps) than crumbs (mcg)!
Can you convert micrograms (mcg) to milligrams (mg)?
Tr y these:
Convert 2 500 micrograms (mcg) into milligrams (mg)
Change 45.5 micrograms (mcg) to milligrams (mg)
How many milligrams (mg) are in 750 micrograms (mcg) ?
[Please refer to the an swers on page 21 at the back of the guide]
16
Converting milligrams(mg) to grams (g)
Example:
Convert 4 000 milligrams (mg) into grams (g)
[How many bags would you make from 4 000 crisps?]
Solution:
Divide by 1 000:
4 000 ÷ 1 000 = 4 g ( i.e. 4 bags)
17
Can you convert milligrams (mg) to grams (g) ?
Try these - How many grams (g) are there in:
8 000 mg
10 000 mg
[Please refer to the answers on page 22 at the back of the guide]
Conversions involving moving the dec imal point
still divide by 1 000
Example:
Convert 2 540 (milligrams) mg into grams (g)
Solution:
2540 ÷ 1 000
18
2. 5
4
0 .
÷
1 000
left is less
move decimal points 3 places left
Tip: think 3 zeros in 1 000
Answer
= 2.540 g
TIP: Does the answ er look right?
You w ould expect less g (bags of crisps) than individual crisps
(mg)!
Can you convert milligrams (mg) to grams (g)?
Tr y these:
Convert
500 milligrams (mg) into grams (g)
Change 125 milligrams (mg) to grams (g)
How many grams (g) are in 75 milligrams (mg) ?
[Please refer to the answers on page 22 at the back of the guide]
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Answers
Can you convert grams (g) to milligrams (mg) ?
(page 8)
6 000 milligrams (mg)
15 000 milligrams (mg)
Conversions involving moving the decimal point
(grams (g) to milligrams (mg) page 9)
671 milligrams (mg)
50 milligrams (mg)
3 400 milligrams (mg)
Can you convert milligrams (mg) to micrograms
(mcg) ? (page 12)
6 000 micrograms (mcg)
12 000 micrograms (mcg)
20
Conversions involving moving the decimal point
( milligrams (mg )to micrograms (mcg) page 13)
500 micrograms (mcg)
90 micrograms (mcg)
2 500 micrograms (mcg)
Can you convert micrograms (mcg) to milligrams
(mg) ?(page 15)
5 milligrams (mg)
2 milligrams (mg)
Conversions involving moving the decimal point
(micrograms (mcg) to milligrams (mg) page 16)
2.500 milligrams (mg) or 2.5 mg
0.0455 milligrams (mg)
0.750 milligrams (mg)
21
Can you convert milligrams (mg) to grams (g) ?
(page 18)
8 grams (g)
10 grams (g)
Conversions involving moving the decimal point
(milligrams (mg) to grams (g) page 19)
0.500 or 0.5 grams (g)
0.125 grams (g)
0.075 grams (g)
Additional Resources
Drugs Calculations Software - http://www.educinnov.com/
Drugs Calculations for Health professionals
http://www.testandcalc.com/
Drug Calculations Quiz Page http://www.testandcal c.com/quiz/index.asp
Dyscalculia – BBC Skillswise
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/tutors/expertcolumn/dyscalculia/
Lawler, G. (2003) Understanding Maths: Basic Mathematics Expl ained.
2 n d ed. Somerset: Studymates Ltd.
Llewellyn, S. & Greer, A. (1996) Mathematics the Basic Skills . 5th ed.
London: Stanley Thornes.
MathCentre – http://www.mathcentre.ac.uk/
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