If 0.5 ml of serum is added to 1.5 ml of saline, what is the dilution
To calculate the dilution, you need to compare the volume of the original substance (serum) with the final volume after dilution (serum + saline).
In this case, you start with 0.5 ml of serum and add 1.5 ml of saline. This gives you a total volume of 0.5 ml + 1.5 ml = 2 ml.
To find the dilution, divide the volume of the original substance (serum) by the final volume after dilution (serum + saline):
Dilution = Volume of Serum / Total Volume
Dilution = 0.5 ml / 2 ml
Now you can simplify the fraction:
Dilution = 0.5 / 2
Dilution = 0.25
So, the dilution is 0.25 or 1:4 (which means that 1 part of serum is diluted in 4 parts of saline).