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Quizzes > Health & Medicine

Paramedic Med Math Practice: Drug Calculations Quiz

Quick quiz with med math practice questions. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Afiqah HarithuddinUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for Paramedic Med Math quiz on a coral background

This quiz helps you build speed and accuracy with paramedic drug calculations, including IV drip rates and weight-based dosing. Work through focused med math practice, then check your score and review steps. For more practice, try our drug calculation quiz or expand your knowledge with a paramedic pharmacology quiz. You can also reinforce safe habits with a quick medication safety quiz.

You need to give 4 mg of ondansetron IV. Your vial is 2 mg/mL. What volume will you administer?
4 mL (Incorrect: would deliver 8 mg)
0.5 mL (Incorrect: would only deliver 1 mg)
1 mL (Correct: 4 mg / 2 mg/mL = 2 mL)
2 mL (Correct: 4 mg / 2 mg/mL = 2 mL)
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A pediatric patient weighs 18 kg. The ketamine dose is 1 mg/kg IV. Your concentration is 50 mg/mL. What volume is required?
0.36 mL (Correct: 18 mg / 50 mg/mL = 0.36 mL)
3.6 mL (Incorrect: 180 mg, far too high)
1.8 mL (Incorrect: 90 mg, too high)
0.18 mL (Incorrect: 9 mg, too low)
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You must infuse 250 mL of normal saline over 1 hour using a 60 gtt/mL microdrip. What is the drip rate?
125 gtt/min (Incorrect: equals 125 mL/hr)
60 gtt/min (Incorrect: equals 60 mL/hr)
500 gtt/min (Incorrect: double the needed rate)
250 gtt/min (Correct: 250 mL/hr x 60 gtt/mL / 60 = 250 gtt/min)
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Administer 0.3 mg IM epinephrine for anaphylaxis. Using 1 mg/mL (1:1000), what volume do you draw up?
0.15 mL (Incorrect: 0.15 mg)
0.3 mL (Correct: 0.3 mg / 1 mg/mL = 0.3 mL)
3 mL (Incorrect: 3 mg)
1 mL (Incorrect: 1 mg)
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You have fentanyl 50 mcg/mL. The order is 75 mcg IV. What volume will you give?
2 mL (Incorrect: 100 mcg)
1.5 mL (Correct: 75 mcg / 50 mcg/mL = 1.5 mL)
0.5 mL (Incorrect: 25 mcg)
1 mL (Incorrect: 50 mcg)
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You have D10W. How many grams of dextrose are in 250 mL?
50 g (Incorrect: would be 20%)
10 g (Incorrect: 10% is 10 g per 100 mL)
2.5 g (Incorrect: 1% of 250 mL)
25 g (Correct: 10 g/100 mL x 250 mL = 25 g)
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You need to deliver 500 mL over 4 hours with a 15 gtt/mL tubing. What is the drip rate?
31 gtt/min (Correct: 500 mL / 240 min x 15 = 31.25 gtt/min, round to 31)
15 gtt/min (Incorrect: equals 60 mL/hr)
60 gtt/min (Incorrect: would infuse ~960 mL in 4 h)
19 gtt/min (Correct: 500 mL / 240 min x 15 = 31.25 gtt/min, round to 31)
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Give amiodarone 150 mg in 100 mL over 10 minutes on a pump. What mL/hr rate should you set?
600 mL/hr (Correct: 100 mL / 10 min x 60 = 600 mL/hr)
300 mL/hr (Correct: 100 mL in 10 min = 600 mL/hr)
900 mL/hr (Incorrect: too fast)
100 mL/hr (Incorrect: would take 60 minutes)
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You must administer magnesium sulfate 2 g in 100 mL over 20 minutes. What pump rate is needed?
200 mL/hr (Incorrect: would take 30 min)
600 mL/hr (Incorrect: too fast)
400 mL/hr (Incorrect: too fast)
300 mL/hr (Correct: 100 mL / 20 min x 60 = 300 mL/hr)
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How many milliliters are needed to give 1 gram of calcium chloride 10% (100 mg/mL of CaCl2)?
10 mL (Correct: 1,000 mg / 100 mg/mL = 10 mL)
5 mL (Incorrect: 500 mg)
20 mL (Incorrect: 2,000 mg)
7.5 mL (Incorrect: 750 mg)
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A 22 kg child needs midazolam 0.2 mg/kg IN. You have 5 mg/mL. What volume is required?
1.76 mL (Incorrect: double the dose)
0.44 mL (Correct: 0.2x22=4.4 mg; 4.4 / 5 mg/mL = 0.88 mL)
4.4 mL (Incorrect: would be 22 mg)
0.88 mL (Correct: 4.4 mg / 5 mg/mL = 0.88 mL)
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Calculate the infusion pump setting (mL/hr): Norepinephrine target 10 mcg/min. Your bag is 4 mg in 250 mL.
9.4 mL/hr (Correct: 4,000 mcg/250 mL = 16 mcg/mL; 10 mcg/min = 600 mcg/hr; 600 / 16 = 37.5 mL/hr)
3.8 mL/hr (Incorrect: underdoses)
37.5 mL/hr (Correct: 4,000 mcg/250 mL = 16 mcg/mL; 10 mcg/min = 600 mcg/hr; 600 / 16 = 37.5 mL/hr)
60 mL/hr (Incorrect: overdoses)
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Administer a lidocaine loading dose of 1.5 mg/kg IV to a 70 kg patient using a 20 mg/mL solution. What volume is required?
10.5 mL (Incorrect: 210 mg)
7.0 mL (Incorrect: 140 mg)
3.5 mL (Incorrect: 70 mg)
5.25 mL (Correct: 1.5x70=105 mg; 105 / 20 mg/mL = 5.25 mL)
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An IVPB of ceftriaxone 100 mL must run over 30 minutes via microdrip. What is the drip rate in gtt/min?
33 gtt/min (Correct: 100 mL/30 min x 60 gtt/mL = 200 gtt/min; microdrip is 60 gtt/mL; 100/30x60=200)
100 gtt/min (Incorrect: too slow)
200 gtt/min (Correct: 100 mL / 30 min x 60 gtt/mL = 200 gtt/min)
60 gtt/min (Incorrect: equals 60 mL/hr)
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A 75 kg patient requires etomidate 0.3 mg/kg IV. Your vial is 2 mg/mL. What volume do you draw up?
7.5 mL (Incorrect: 15 mg)
22.5 mL (Incorrect: would be 45 mg)
11.3 mL (Correct: 22.5 mg / 2 mg/mL = 11.25 mL)
5.6 mL (Correct: 0.3x75=22.5 mg; 22.5 / 2 = 11.25 mL)
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Prepare a push-dose epinephrine solution: 1 mL of 1 mg/mL epi into 9 mL NS yields what concentration?
0.01 mg/mL (Incorrect: 1:100,000 is 0.01 mg/mL)
0.05 mg/mL (Incorrect: 1:20,000)
1 mg/mL (Incorrect: undiluted)
0.1 mg/mL (Correct: 1 mg in 10 mL = 0.1 mg/mL, or 1:10,000)
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Prepare a dopamine infusion at 10 mcg/kg/min for a 90 kg patient. Your bag is 400 mg in 250 mL. What mL/hr is required?
34 mL/hr
51 mL/hr
84 mL/hr
30 mL/hr
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How many mcg/min are delivered if you run 30 mL/hr from a bag labeled 800 mcg/mL?
300 mcg/min (Incorrect: equals 18,000 mcg/hr)
400 mcg/min (Correct: 30 mL/hr x 800 = 24,000 mcg/hr; /60 = 400 mcg/min)
800 mcg/min (Incorrect)
200 mcg/min (Incorrect: equals 12,000 mcg/hr)
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An 80 kg patient needs 2 mcg/kg/min of norepinephrine. Your solution is 16 mcg/mL. What mL/hr do you set?
37.5 mL/hr (Correct: 160 mcg/min = 9,600 mcg/hr; 9,600 / 16 = 600 mL/hr; but 16 mcg/mL yields 600 mL/hr)
600 mL/hr (Correct: 9,600 mcg/hr / 16 mcg/mL = 600 mL/hr)
15 mL/hr (Correct: 2x80=160 mcg/min=9,600 mcg/hr; 9,600 / 16 = 600 mL/hr, error)
10 mL/hr (Incorrect: 2.7 mcg/kg/min)
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A 50 kg patient requires ketamine 0.3 mg/kg analgesic infusion using 10 mg/mL mixed to 100 mL total over 30 min. What mL/hr?
50 mL/hr (Incorrect: 100 mL/2 hr)
100 mL/hr (Incorrect: 1 hr)
400 mL/hr (Incorrect)
200 mL/hr (Correct: 100 mL in 30 min = 200 mL/hr; dose check: 15 mg total in 30 min)
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand core elements of the master formula paramedic approach -

    Define each part of the D/H × Q/T equation and explain how it underpins accurate paramedic med math practice.

  2. Apply paramedic drug calculations using the master formula -

    Calculate correct medication dosages by inserting drug concentrations and patient variables into the D/H × Q/T formula.

  3. Calculate accurate dosages for various administration routes -

    Perform dosage computations for oral, IV, and IM medications to ensure precision in real-world paramedic scenarios.

  4. Interpret drug concentration and infusion data -

    Analyze medication labels and IV infusion parameters to determine proper flow rates and solution dilutions.

  5. Evaluate and verify calculation accuracy -

    Critically review your answers, identify potential errors, and apply verification steps to prevent medication mishaps.

  6. Monitor progress and enhance med math proficiency -

    Use instant quiz feedback to track improvement, pinpoint learning gaps, and build confidence in med math practice for paramedics.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Master Formula Method -

    The Master Formula Paramedic approach simplifies paramedic med math by using (Desired Dose ÷ Stock Dose) × Stock Volume to determine the correct administration volume. For example, if the order is 250 mg and you have 500 mg in 10 mL, calculate (250 mg ÷ 500 mg) × 10 mL = 5 mL. This method, endorsed by many paramedic programs, ensures consistency across diverse drug calculations.

  2. Dimensional Analysis for Unit Conversions -

    Dimensional analysis, a cornerstone of paramedic med math practice and endorsed by the National Association of EMS Educators, helps you convert units (e.g., mg to g, mL to L) using factor-label techniques. Remember the mnemonic "King Henry Died by Drinking Chocolate Milk" to track prefixes (kilo, hecto, deca, base, deci, centi, milli). For instance, converting 0.75 g to milligrams yields 0.75 g × 1,000 mg/g = 750 mg.

  3. Calculating IV Drip Rates (gtt/min) -

    Paramedic drug calculations often require determining drops per minute using (Total Volume × Drop Factor) ÷ Time (minutes). For a 1 L infusion over 4 hours with a 20 gtt/mL set, compute (1,000 mL × 20 gtt/mL) ÷ 240 min = 83 gtt/min. Mastering this ensures accurate fluid therapy in the field.

  4. Pediatric & Weight-Based Dosing -

    Weight-based calculations, crucial in med math practice for paramedics, use mg/kg formulas to avoid dosing errors in children and smaller adults. For example, for 0.2 mg/kg in a 25 kg patient, calculate 0.2 mg/kg × 25 kg = 5 mg. Always confirm calculations with up-to-date pediatric reference tables like those from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

  5. Dilution & Reconstitution Strategies -

    Proper dilution techniques reinforce your master formula paramedic approach and prevent concentration mistakes when preparing medications from powders or concentrates. If a 250 mg vial requires 10 mL of diluent, reconstitute to achieve a 25 mg/mL solution and then draw 2 mL for a 50 mg dose. Refer to manufacturer's inserts and protocols from agencies like the Institute for Safe Medication Practices.

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