Final answer:
The banana provides potassium for nutrient-related experiments or radioactive potassium-40 for radioactivity studies. In math problems, it is used to create balanced equations and calculate quantities of ingredients for a smoothie recipe.
Step-by-step explanation:
The banana was likely used in a biology experiment because it provides potassium, a vital mineral for plant growth, and in some cases, radioactive potassium-40 for radioactivity experiments. In the context of the given historical information, no experiment was specifically mentioned, but the banana industry's history indicates its economic relevance. In laboratory experiments studying plant growth, bananas might be used due to their nutrient content, which can be vital for plant development, or as a subject for studying transpiration due to its large leaves.
In the case of the question regarding the activity of a banana, the question relates to radioactivity and the presence of potassium-40. Since a banana contains 600 mg of potassium and a small percentage of this is radioactive potassium-40, we can calculate the activity based on the given decay rate of potassium-40.
In regards to the smoothie problem, the question deals with creating balanced equations and using conversion factors to determine the quantities of ingredients needed for multiple servings of a smoothie. Each ingredient's relationship can be represented mathematically, which is an application of basic algebra.