document.write( "Question 812540: The half life of radioactive element plutonium-239 is 20 years.
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document.write( "How long will it take for a sample of this substance to decay to 60% of its original amount? \n" );
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Algebra.Com's Answer #489283 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! The half life of radioactive element plutonium-239 is 20 years. \n" ); document.write( "How long will it take for a sample of this substance to decay to 60% of its original amount? \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "The radioactive decay formula: A = Ao*2^(-t/h), where: \n" ); document.write( "A = resulting amt after t time \n" ); document.write( "Ao = initial amt (t=0) \n" ); document.write( "t = time of decay \n" ); document.write( "h = half-life of substance \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Let initial amt = 1 \n" ); document.write( "2^(-t/20) = .6 \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "t = -.7369656 * -20 \n" ); document.write( "t = 14.74 yrs \n" ); document.write( " |