Question 48240
The half-life of radium-226 is 1600 years. Suppose we have a 22-mg sample.
a. Find a function that models the mass remaining after t years 
Using the model for radioactive decay mt = m0e^-rt:
m0 = 22mg, r=(ln2/1600) = -0.00043
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A rate cannot be negative.
You probably mean r=0.00043 
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m(t) = 22e^-0.00043t 
b. How much of the sample will remain after 4000 years? 
t = 4000
m(4000) = 22e^(-0.00043)(4000) = 3.94 mg 
c. After how long will only 18 mg of the sample remain? 
m(t) = 18 
22e^-0.00043t = 18
e^-0.00043t = 9/11
Ln e^-0.00043t = ln 9/11
0.00043t = ln 9/11
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I think you need the following:
ln e^-0.00043t = ln 9/11
-0.00043t = ln(9/11)
t=[ln(9/11)]/(-0.00043)
t=466.676 years
Cheers,
Stan H.