document.write( "Question 898557: Help with this log problem. I have the answer but am confused on how to get to it\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Prehistoric cave paintings were discovered in a cave in France. The paint contained 39% of the original carbon-14. Use the exponential decay model for carbon-14, A = Ao e ^(-0.001211)(t) to estimate the age of the paintings.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The paitings are approximately 7.782 years old.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Can someone please show me how to arrive at that answer?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "thank you
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Algebra.Com's Answer #544895 by josgarithmetic(39620)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Your decay equation is A=Ao*e^(-0.001211t) in pure text and using your same variables. This will appear more conventionally as \"A=Ao%2Ae%5E%28-0.001211t%29\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "You are given a relationship between A and Ao, and are asked for t. Solve first symbolically for t, which is a more comfortable process.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"ln%28A%29=ln%28Ao%29%2Bln%28e%5E%28-0.001211t%29%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"ln%28A%29=ln%28Ao%29%2B%28-0.001211t%29%2A1\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"ln%28A%29-ln%28Ao%29=-0.001211t\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"ln%28Ao%29-ln%28A%29=0.001211t\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"highlight_green%28t=%281%2F0.001211%29ln%28Ao%2FA%29%29\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "You were given A is a percentage of Ao, so take Ao as 100 and A as 39.
\n" ); document.write( "Now just substitute into the formula for t:
\n" ); document.write( "\"t=%281%2F0.001211%29ln%28100%2F39%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "...with a calculator for help....
\n" ); document.write( "\"highlight%28t=778%29\" years.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "This showed at four significant figures to be 777.5 years, but how accurately you can trust the decay equation can be debated. You most likely made a decimal mistake in your steps.
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