document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=430169>Question 430169</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I am trying to the determine the half-life of an element using the following data:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "corn remaining     / #of shakes       <BR>\n" );
document.write( "100            /       0                             <BR>\n" );
document.write( "50             /       12\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "80             /        4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "40             /       16\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "60             /       8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "30             /      16\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "50             /      12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "25             /      20\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #298818 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jsmallt9><B>jsmallt9(3758)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jsmallt9><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=298818\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The initial count (at 0) is 100. The count at 12 is 50. Since 50 is 1/2 of 100 it appears that the half-life would be 12 shakes.(What's a shake?)<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "But then the data says that at 20 shakes the count is 25. But 25 is 1/2 of 50. So 25 should happen a half-life after 50. So it should happen aother 12 shakes later, <i>not 8 shakes later like that data shows.</i> So the data is inconsistent. </SPAN>\n" );
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