The patient weighs 145 lbs. How many kg does the patient weigh? Round to the tenths place.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is: 65.8 kg
To convert pounds (lbs) to kilograms (kg), you can use the conversion factor:
1 lb ≈ 0.453592 kg.
Conversion Calculation
- Start with the patient’s weight in pounds: 145 lbs.
- Apply the conversion factor:
[
\text{Weight in kg} = \text{Weight in lbs} \times 0.453592
]
[
\text{Weight in kg} = 145 \times 0.453592 \approx 65.7704 \text{ kg}
] - Round to the tenths place:
- The number 65.7704 rounded to the tenths place is 65.8 kg.
Explanation
The conversion from pounds to kilograms is a common task in various fields, especially in healthcare and fitness, where understanding a patient’s weight in different measurement systems is crucial for treatment and medication dosing. In medical settings, accurate weight measurement is essential for assessing a patient’s health status, determining appropriate medication dosages, and monitoring weight changes over time, particularly in conditions where weight fluctuation is significant, such as heart failure, kidney disease, or obesity.
The conversion factor used, (0.453592), is derived from the relationship between the two units of measure. This factor helps in understanding that one pound is less than half a kilogram, reflecting the differences in measurement systems. Healthcare professionals often encounter both pounds and kilograms; therefore, being able to convert between these units efficiently is important for clear communication and accurate clinical practice.
When rounding, it’s crucial to follow standard rules. In this case, since the value is 65.7704, you look at the digit in the hundredths place (which is 7) to determine if you should round up or keep it the same. Since it’s 7 (greater than 5), you round the tenths place (7) up to 8, resulting in the final weight of 65.8 kg.