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An element with mass 670 grams decays by 27.3% per minute. How much of the element is remaining after 9 minutes, to the nearest 10th of a gram?

2 Answers

6 votes
There will be 38 grams remaining.

The equation would be of the form
y = a(1+r)ˣ, where a is the initial value, r is the rate as a decimal number, and x is the amount of time. Using our values from the problem, we have:

y = 670(1-0.273)^9 = 670(0.727)^9 = 38
User Andrey Sboev
by
8.4k points
6 votes

Answer: 38.0 grams

Explanation:

The exponential decay equation with rate of decay r in time period x is given by :-


f(x)=A(1-r)^x, A is the initial value .

Given: The initial mass of element= 670 grams

Rate of decay= 27.3%=0.273

Now, the function represents amount of element after x minutes is given by ;-


f(x)=670(1-0.273)^x\\\\\Rightarrow\ f(x)=670(0.727)^x

Now, the function represents the amount of element after 9 minutes is given by ;-


f(x)=670(1-0.273)^9\\\\\Rightarrow\ f(x)=38.0088299313\approx38.0\text{ grams}

Hence, 38.0 grams of element remains after 9 minutes.

User Jmihalicza
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