document.write( "Question 151233: Please help. These log word problems are the worst.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "A certain radioactive isotope decays at a rate of .25% annually. Determine the half-life of this isotope, to the nearest year.
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Algebra.Com's Answer #111130 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)\"\" \"About 
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A certain radioactive isotope decays at a rate of .25% annually. Determine the half-life of this isotope, to the nearest year.
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\n" ); document.write( "The half-life formula: A = Ao*2^(-t/h)
\n" ); document.write( "where:
\n" ); document.write( "Ao - initial amt
\n" ); document.write( "A = resulting amt
\n" ); document.write( "t = time
\n" ); document.write( "h = half life of the substance
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\n" ); document.write( "In this problem:
\n" ); document.write( "A = .75 (amt remaining after a 25% loss)
\n" ); document.write( "Ao = 1
\n" ); document.write( "t = 1
\n" ); document.write( "h = half life
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\n" ); document.write( "We can write it:
\n" ); document.write( "1* 2(-1/h) = .75
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\n" ); document.write( "ln(2^(-1/h)) = ln(.75); Find the nat log of both sides
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\n" ); document.write( "\"%28-1%2Fh%29\"*ln(2) = ln(.75); the log equiv of exponents
\n" ); document.write( ".693147*\"-1%2Fh\" = -.287682
\n" ); document.write( "\"-.693147%2Fh\" = -.287682
\n" ); document.write( "-.693147 = -.287682h; multiplied both sides by h
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\n" ); document.write( "h = \"%28-.693147%29%2F%28-.287682%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "h = +2.4 years is the half-life of this isotope
\n" ); document.write( "h = 2 yrs
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\n" ); document.write( "Check solution on a calc: enter 2^(-1/2.4) = .749 ~ .75 (left after 25% loss)
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