Can't do math in my head!!

[LottsLuv]

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I did extremely well in my both inorganic and organic chemistry and absolutely loved it along the way. I also did well in math, but I'm really not a fan. I've just recently really become serious about getting into the pharmacy field, but I have one little problem. I am a SERIOUS visual learner; I really can't do any complex math in my head? Will this be a problem as a practicing pharmacist?

 

[illusions]

nope. I always have a calculator in my pocket and I use it for the easiest math!

 

[firefighter9015]

As long as you can understand how to work out equations and rearrange them, the rest you can do with calculator.

 

[SexyPlexi]

except the stinkin PCAT that you can't use a calculator on. 👎 But don't let one test stop you.

 

[terse]

I did extremely well in my both inorganic and organic chemistry and absolutely loved it along the way. I also did well in math, but I'm really not a fan. I've just recently really become serious about getting into the pharmacy field, but I have one little problem. I am a SERIOUS visual learner; I really can't do any complex math in my head? Will this be a problem as a practicing pharmacist?

Don't worry, most people can't. Now if you can't do SIMPLE math in your head, then there might be a problem.

 

[LottsLuv]

YAY! There is hope for me! As soon as I can figure out how to count without my toes!!

 

[Requiem]

What does being a visual learner have to do with being able to do mental math?


Mental math isn't a necessity, but it makes you more efficient and therefore better. Also lowers risk of alzheimers.

 

[Pharmavixen]

I would recommend putting the calculator aside and practising mental arithmetic. If you're smart enough to ace chemistry, I doubt you're innately dumb at numbers; just rusty from relying on computers/calculators so much. It isn't essential for the job, but if you get a sense of numbers, you can work faster and catch mistakes faster/better.

If I'm calculating something like a mg/kg dosage, I try doing it in my head first, and then check it with the calculator. If you're checking the same calculation twice using two different methods, you're less likely to make an error by simply making the same mistake twice (follow that?).

 

[GatorRxGirl]

Even in my last year of pharmacy school I still count on my fingers when we aren't allowed to use a a calculator.

 

[PharmDstudent]

I can't divide in my head if the quotient isn't even. For whatever reason, the process becomes too cluttered. 😕

For example, if I have to divide 24 tablets by 5 doses per day to get the day supply of a medication, I will automatically revert to multiplication. I'll think: 5 times what will get me closest to 24? 5 times 4 = 20 and 5 times 5 = 25. So, the answer has to be between 4 and 5. The day supply has to be 4, and not 4 point whatever, because we can't do a day supply with a decimal or round up to a five day supple when the patient will run out at the end of 4 days. 😛

 

[RxWildcat]

Even if I do the math in my head I usually double check with a calculator just to make sure.