SOLUTION: I need help with these questions: A certain amount of Californium-251 is slowly decaying. After 101 years 92.5 grams of an initial 100 grams are remaining. a. Create a functi

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Question 960997: I need help with these questions:
A certain amount of Californium-251 is slowly decaying. After 101 years 92.5 grams of an initial 100 grams are remaining.
a. Create a function, Q(t), that will calculate how much Californium-251 is remaining after t years.
b. What is the approximate half-life of Californium-251?
This is what I did for part a:
92.5 - 100(x)^101
.925 = x^101
I got stuck after that. I don't know how to solve for 'x'
This is what I did for part b:
Q(t) = 100(1/2)t/101
t = 101 - is this correct????
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A certain amount of Californium-251 is slowly decaying.
After 101 years 92.5 grams of an initial 100 grams are remaining.
:
a. Create a function, Q(t), that will calculate how much Californium-251 is remaining after t years.
Q(t) = 100*2^(-t/h), where h = the half-life of the substance
:
b. What is the approximate half-life of Californium-251?
Q(t) = 92.5 yrs
100*2^(-101/h) = 92.5
2^(-101/h) = 92.5%2F100
2^(-101/h) = .925
-101%2Fh = ln%28.925%29%2Fln%282%29
use your calc
-101%2Fh = -.11247473
-101 = -.11247473h
h = %28-101%29%2F%28-.11247473%29
h = 898 yrs is the half-life