Answer: Both compare the object to an event in history.
Relative dating is a way to find the age of an object by comparing it to the known age of things found in the layers of Earth around the object. The age can also be related to a known event in time. This method provides an estimated age and is typically shown as a range of years.
Radioactive dating is done by examining the atomic particles found in an object. The atomic particles decay over time at a predictable rate. Scientists are able to measure the rate of decay to establish the age of the material. (This method provides a very specific age)