November 13, 2003
Step away from the counter with your hands up. And here I am getting disturbed when a cashier can't make change for my coke if the cash register's down. This is just frightening. (Via Matt Bruce.)


UPDATE: Coffee Grounds has more on the subject.


Posted by Moira Breen at November 13, 2003 04:45 AM
Comments

.4% X 4 = 1.6%

.4% X 5 = 2%

She said who couldn't divide by 4.
So, who is innumerate, the pharmacist or the patient?

Posted by: bruce quaintance on November 13, 2003

Bruce, I'm not going to call you innumerate, but I suggest you think through what a "four-to-one dilution" is before you fill any prescriptions. Julie is correct.

Posted by: Moira on November 14, 2003

Check out my post and the ensuing comment thread on this subject. You may feel a bit better. FYI, "Suzette" is a 50-something RN ("Real Nurse") with some expertise in these matters.

http://coffeegrounds.typepad.com/blog/2003/11/can_i_get_an_eh.html

Posted by: The Proprietor on November 14, 2003

Moira,

You forced me to do some remedial study of ratios online, and you are correct. A 4:1 ratio does result in an 80% dilution, yielding a .4% result. My hopes of someday wearing a white labcoat are dashed.

Posted by: bruce quaintance on November 15, 2003

Bruce - Nah, I wouldn't worry about it. I'd guess that even most reasonably numerate people who aren't familiar with doing dilutions would calculate a one-quarter, not a one-fifth strength solution. Even some in white coats.

Prop - thanks for the link. Btw, I turned the html back on, so link 'em if you got 'em, efferybahdy.

Posted by: Moira on November 16, 2003

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