Start with this short video, then scroll down for the full guide.
Why This Matters for Nursing: Real nursing math never comes as "solve 3x + 5 = 20." It comes as: "A patient receives 50 mL/hr. After 4 hours, they've received 350 mL total. What was the initial IV bag volume?" Translating words to math is THE essential skill.
The key to word problems is translating English into math. Once you set up the equation correctly, solving is just applying what you already know.
| English | Math |
|---|---|
| is, are, was, equals, gives | = |
| more than, increased by, added to | + |
| less than, decreased by, subtracted from | - |
| times, of, product | × |
| divided by, per, ratio of | ÷ |
| what, a number, unknown | x (variable) |
Unlock all 61 study guides, unlimited practice quizzes, and your personalized study plan.
Start 3-Day Free Trial →3 days free • Cancel anytime • No commitment