Question 1192687: Wood deposits recovered from an archaeological site contain 13% of the C-14 they originally contained. How long ago did the tree from which the wood was obtained die? (Assume the half life of carbon-14 is 5,730 years. Round your answer to the nearest whole number.)
Found 3 solutions by Boreal, ikleyn, josgarithmetic:
Answer by Boreal(15235)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Nf=Noe^(-kt)
(1/2)=e^(-kt) for half life
ln(1/2)=(-5730k)
-0.693=-5730k
k=0.0001210
now Nf/No=0.13
so 0.13=e^(-0.0001210t)
ln both sides to remove e
-2.040=-0.0001210t
t=16,861 years.
13% is not quite 3 half lives (12.5% is), which is 17,190 years, so the answer makes sense.
Answer by ikleyn(52818)  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! .
If you don't care about quality of the solution, you may accept it from the other tutors posts.
But if you will come to a respectful company for an interview and if they will give you a similar problem,
then, if you solve it in this way, they will fail you.
Because NEXT TO YOU will be another person who  how to do it right.
Answer by josgarithmetic(39621)  (Show Source):
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