document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=115799>Question 115799</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Having trouble getting started and really appreciate any assistance/direction.  \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "An animal skeleton was un-earthed during a certain geological excavation. It has been determined that the skeleton lost 84% of its carbon-14 content. How old was the animal at the time of its death? \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Thank you. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #84271 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><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=84271\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> An animal skeleton was un-earthed during a certain geological excavation. It has been determined that the skeleton lost 84% of its carbon-14 content. How old was the animal at the time of its death? \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Using Google you can find the half-life of carbon 14 to be 5700 yrs.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Then the half-life formula is:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "A(t) = Ao (1/2)^(t/5700)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Your Problem becomes:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "0.84Ao = Ao (1/2)^(t/5700)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "0.84 = (1/2)^(t/5700)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Take the log of both sides to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "log(0.84) = (t/5700)*log(1/2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "t/5700 = log(0.84)/log(1/2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "t/5700 = 0.2515388...<BR>\n" );
document.write( "t = 1433.77 yrs.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H.<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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