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)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
This same problem came up about a week ago, here is what I submitted then
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\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?
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\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)
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\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
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\n" ); document.write( "\"-t%2F4.2\".693 = -2.577; use the log equiv of exponents
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\n" ); document.write( "\"%28-.693t%29%2F4.2\" = -2.577;
\n" ); document.write( "Multiply both sides by 4.2
\n" ); document.write( "-.693t = -2.577 * 4.2
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\n" ); document.write( "-.693t = -10.823
\n" ); document.write( "t = \"%28-10.823%29%2F%28-.693%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "t = 15.6 million years old
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\n" ); document.write( "Check solution on a calc enter 2^(-15.6/4.2) = .076..\r
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