Homework Help: applied algebra

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 27, 2012 at 6:15pm.

An artifact was found and tested for its carbon-14 content. If 74% of the original carbon-14 was still present, what is its probable age (to the nearest 100 years)? Use that carbon-14 has a half-life of 5,730 years.
1 yr

applied algebra - Steve, Saturday, October 27, 2012 at 7:38pm
the fraction left after t years is

(1/2)^(t/5730)
so, you need to solve for t:
.74 = (1/2)^(t/5730)
ln .74 = t/5730 * ln .5
t = 5730 * ln .74/ln .5
t = 2489, or 2500 years

Answer this Question

Related Questions

algebra - An artifact was found and tested for its carbon-14 content. If 84% of ...
algebra - An artifact was found and tested for its carbon-14 content. If 84% of ...
Algebra - An artifact was found and tested for its carbon-14 content. If 77% of ...
algebra - An artifact was found and tested for its carbon-14 content. If 79% of ...
math - An artifact was found and tested for its carbon-14 content. If 83% of the...
math - An artifact was found and tested for its carbon-14 content. If 83% of the...
math - An artifact was found and tested for its carbon-14 content. If 76% of the...
math - An artifact was found and tested for its carbon-14 content. If 88% of the...
Homework test - An artifact was found and tested for its carbon-14 content. If ...
College Math - An artifact was found and tested for its carbon-14 content. If 88...

For Further Reading

First Name:
School Subject:
Answer: