SOLUTION: A fossilized leaf contains 12% of its normal amount of carbon 14. How old is the fossil (to the nearest year)? Use 5600 years as the half-life of carbon 14. a. 1031 b.

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Question 1034021: A fossilized leaf contains 12% of its normal amount of carbon 14. How old is the fossil (to the nearest year)? Use 5600 years as the half-life of carbon 14.
a. 1031
b. 17,099
c. 20,040
d. 36,108
Answer by fractalier(6550) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
We use
A%28t%29+=+A%5B0%5D%281%2F2%29%5E%28t%2F5600%29
Here A%28t%29+=+.12%2AA%5B0%5D
so we find t...
.12A%5B0%5D+=+A%5B0%5D%281%2F2%29%5E%28t%2F5600%29
.12+=+%281%2F2%29%5E%28t%2F5600%29
and, taking the log we get
t%2F5600+=+%28ln+.12%29%2F%28ln+.5%29
so that
t = 17130 years
The best choice is B.