SOLUTION: An isotype of Sodium, Na-24, has a half life of 10h. If a sample contains 400 units of Na-24, the exponential function to model this is y=400(1/2)^x. What does the variable y re

Algebra ->  Exponents -> SOLUTION: An isotype of Sodium, Na-24, has a half life of 10h. If a sample contains 400 units of Na-24, the exponential function to model this is y=400(1/2)^x. What does the variable y re      Log On


   



Question 1156506: An isotype of Sodium, Na-24, has a half life of 10h. If a sample contains 400 units of Na-24, the exponential function to model this is y=400(1/2)^x.
What does the variable y represent in this situation?
What does the variable x represent in this situation?
Im confused and don't know how to figure this out.

Answer by ikleyn(52803) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
An highlight%28cross%28isotype%29%29 isotope of Sodium, Na-24, has a half life of 10h.
If a sample contains 400 units of Na-24, the exponential function to model this is y=400(1/2)^x.
What does the variable y represent in this situation?
What does the variable x represent in this situation?
Im confused and don't know how to figure this out.
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The variable "y" represents the current amount of the isotope NA-24 in the sample after x half-life periods.


The variable "x" represents the number of half-life periods after the beginning of the decay process.


For example, x = 2 means "2 half-life periods", i.e. 2*10 = 20 hours.

Answered and solved.

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Notice that the formula in your post  IS  NOT  traditional and  DIFFERS  from the traditional decay function/formula.

The traditional decay formula for this isotope would be   y = 400%2A%281%2F2%29%5E%28t%2F10%29,  where  t  is the time in hours.