document.write( "Question 165826: I sent this problem several days ago with no response. The level of thorium in a sample decreases by a factor one-half every 4.2million years A meteorite is discovered to have only 7.6% of its original thorium remaining. How old is the meteorite? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #122233 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) You can put this solution on YOUR website! This same problem came up about a week ago, here is what I submitted then \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( " The level of thorium in a sample decreases by a factor of one-half every 4.2 million years. A meteorite is discovered to have only 7.6% of its original thorium remaining. How old is the meteorite? \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "The decay formula: Ao*2^(-t/h) = A \n" ); document.write( "Where: \n" ); document.write( "Ao = initial amt \n" ); document.write( "A = resulting amt \n" ); document.write( "t = time (in millions of yrs) \n" ); document.write( "h = half-life of the substance (in millions of years) \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "In this problem: let Ao = 1; A = .076 \n" ); document.write( "1*2^(-t/4.2) = .076 \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "ln(2^(-t/4.2)) = ln(.076); find the nat log of both sides \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "Multiply both sides by 4.2 \n" ); document.write( "-.693t = -2.577 * 4.2 \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "-.693t = -10.823 \n" ); document.write( "t = \n" ); document.write( "t = 15.6 million years old \n" ); document.write( "; \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Check solution on a calc enter 2^(-15.6/4.2) = .076..\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |