(13)
6000 mg
(14)
600 mg
(15)
0.15 grams
(16)
0.015 grams
(17)
2.4 grams
(18)
0.05 grams
(19)
(a) 0.015 grams
(b) 0.15 ml
Section V. THE METRIC SYSTEM
1-33. INTRODUCTION
The most commonly used system of weights and measures in pharmacy is the
metric system. The metric line on the prescription indicates the importance of this
system. A thorough understanding of the metric system is needed to perform
calculations in the pharmacy.
1-34. VALUES OF PREFIXES IN THE METRIC SYSTEM
a. The three basic units of the metric system are the meter, the gram, and the
liter. The names of the other units are formed by adding a prefix to one of the basic
units. Each prefix has a numerical value as indicated below:
PREFIX
VALUE
micro - (mc) =
1/1,000,000
milli -
(m)
=
1/1,000
centi - (c)
=
1/100 times the basic unit.
deci - (d)
=
1/10
deka - (dk) =
10
hecto - (h)
=
100 times the basic unit.
Kilo - (k)
=
1000
MD0802
1-45