An IV solution contains 100 mL of fluid to be administered at 5 mL per hour. How many hours will it take to administer the full volume?

An IV solution contains 100 mL of fluid to be administered at 5 mL per hour. How many hours will it take to administer the full volume?

• A. 5
• B. 10
• C. 15
• D. 20

Answer: (D)

Infusion time is found by dividing the total volume to be administered by the infusion rate. If you have 100 mL to give at 5 mL per hour, the time needed is 100 ÷ 5 = 20 hours. This checks out because at a rate of 5 mL each hour, it takes 20 hours to deliver 100 mL (20 × 5 = 100). For quick cross-checks: 5 hours would deliver only 25 mL, 10 hours would deliver 50 mL, and 15 hours would deliver 75 mL, leaving some volume still to be delivered. So 20 hours completes the full volume.

Infusion time is found by dividing the total volume to be administered by the infusion rate. If you have 100 mL to give at 5 mL per hour, the time needed is 100 ÷ 5 = 20 hours. This checks out because at a rate of 5 mL each hour, it takes 20 hours to deliver 100 mL (20 × 5 = 100). For quick cross-checks: 5 hours would deliver only 25 mL, 10 hours would deliver 50 mL, and 15 hours would deliver 75 mL, leaving some volume still to be delivered. So 20 hours completes the full volume.