• GiveMemes@jlai.lu
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    15 days ago

    You might’ve already seen this, but try using the method of dimensional analysis where you work backwards on a single line and you’ll never get one of those problems wrong again.

    The key is just working backwards by units using the equations you have available. I know somebody that only got one of the questions on his MCAT correct bc he used this method lol.

    • Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world
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      15 days ago

      I use dimensional analysis, but it’s over two lines… and not sure what you mean by working backwards, since the order doesn’t really matter so long as every value is in the correct line.

      Since typing it out would be ugly as sin, example image stolen from google:

      …they like to give us things like pt weight in lbs and oz, and ask for final product of tablespoons or some shit cuz they enjoy wasting our time, lol.

      That the type you mean?

      I know there are a few different ways to crunch the numbers, but DA is my favorite so far cuz it’s so consistent.

      *edit, example pic changed, first one put mcg twice in the same line, which is a weird move. /shrug

      • oldfart@lemm.ee
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        15 days ago

        So USAnian drugs are in metric units? I hope in actual work nurses get to use a phone app or something because this asks for mistakes

        • Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world
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          15 days ago

          99% of it is metric. I think the biggest outlier is home care, where you go visit some grandma who’s actively offended by metric, so if you tell her to take 7.5mL of something she’ll just do the deer in the headlights thing, then shove the bottle up her ass.

          Tell her instead that she needs to take 3 Mountain Dew caps full and suddenly she can follow instructions enough to not kill herself.

          • oldfart@lemm.ee
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            15 days ago

            I thought everything is bigger across the ocean but your Mountain Dew caps are tiny over there! ;)

            • Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world
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              15 days ago

              Just googled it and apparently they’re about 5mL each. Apparently I’m not great at eyeballing volume.

              Add it to the pile of conversion failures between metric and imperial.

              • oldfart@lemm.ee
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                14 days ago

                Yeah, 5ml is a teaspoon, but I’m not sure if it’s reasonable to assume teaspoons have similar sizes across countries.

                But after your first month in the job you’ll convert and eyeball it even when half asleep :)

                • zod000@lemmy.ml
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                  14 days ago

                  I know it should be obvious and maybe I missed the sarcasm, but the teaspoon unit is in no way the same as an actual teaspoon utensil. I also don’t use my own feet to measure length.

                  • Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world
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                    14 days ago

                    I didn’t think that was sarcasm, it’s just such a jacked up system of measurement that he’s not confident it doesn’t change with borders, which is honestly a pretty reasonable point of uncertainty.

        • Treczoks@lemmy.world
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          15 days ago

          Even in the US, science is mostly metric. But most US people are not exactly the scientific kind…

        • Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world
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          14 days ago

          Gotcha! Yeah same page - some of the other students don’t like that method cuz it can take a bit longer, but building the equation kinda idiot proofs itself against calculating for the wrong unit, and it’s super consistent! Definitely my favorite so far.

    • GoodEye8@lemm.ee
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      15 days ago

      Even dimensional analysis works best with metric because sometimes you need to convert units and almost all conversion in metric are base 10, so something like 1kg/km is 1000g/1000m is 1 gram per meter. But in imperial 1 pound/mile is 16 ounces / 5280 feet is who the fuck knows how many ounces per feet.