This document discusses addition in applied math for nursing. It explains that addition is performed by writing numbers in a column format to properly line up places values. When adding multiple numbers, the order of addition does not matter. It then provides two examples of calculating total fluid amounts by adding together various fluid intake and output values for patients over time periods.

1. Applied Math Addition

2. Applied Math in nursing
the BASIC CONCEPTS; explained
with examples
Nizar Muhammad
(PharmD, RPh)

3. Addition
• Most simple additions can be performed mentally, but
where many individual numbers have to be added
together, like when adding up the fluid intake of a patient
over twenty-four hours, the potential for error increases.
• In these circumstances, it is sensible to perform the
calculation on paper.
• The numbers are written down in a column format as in
the example below. This ensures that the numbers are
lined up correctly for the calculation and maintains the
place value of each digit within the number.
• When adding two or more numbers together, the
calculation can be performed in any order: 74 + 26 gives
the same answer as 26 + 74.
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Self-assessment test 2.2: addition
A. During the course of a morning, a patient drinks the
following amounts of fluid: tea 180 millilitres, orange
100 millilitres, water 120 millilitres, milk 125 millilitres
and coffee 150 millilitres. What is the total amount of
fluid that the patient receives?
B. A patient has a chest drain following surgery. Over the
course of 24 hours, it drains: 125 millilitres, 70
millilitres and 40 millilitres. In addition, the patient is
nauseous and vomits on four occasions, losing the
following amounts of fluid: 250 millilitres, 150
millilitres, 120 millilitres and 90 millilitres. What is the
total amount of fluid lost over the 24-hour period?