Example:
Carbon-14 has a radioactive half-life of 5,730 years. Use the radioactive decay equation to find the age of a fossil that contains 20% of its original carbon-14.
The fossil is approximately 13 thousand years old.
Side note: carbon-14 decays into nitrogen-14 and a beta particle.
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Question: How long will it take $2,000 to double if it is deposited in an account with an interest rate of 5% compounded continuously?
When interest is compounded continuously, the equation
represents the balance, A, after t years, where r is the rate of interest and P is the beginning balance or principal .
Twice $2,000 is $4,000. Substitute these variables into the compound interest formula, isolate the exponential expression and solve for t.
In about 13.86 years, the amount doubles.