Question 162053
In the formula A = I^ekt, A is the amount of radioactive material remaining from an initial amount I at a given time t and k is a negative constant determined by the nature of the material. An artifact is discovered at a certain site. If it has 53% of the carbon-14 it originally contained, what is the approximate age of the artifact? (carbon-14 decays at the rate of 0.0125% annually.) (Round to the nearest year.)
:
I think the formula should be A = I*e^(-kt)
In this problem:
Assume I = 1
A = .53
Decimal value for .0125% = .000125
:
e^(-.000125t) = .53
;
-.000125t*ln(e) = ln(.53)
;
-.000125t = -.6834878; (the ln of e is 1)
t = {{{(-.6834878)/(-.000125)}}}
t = 5,079 years