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A radioactive material has a half-life of 15 days if you start with 160 mg after how long will they be 5mg left?

1 Answer

5 votes

Answer:

75 days

Explanation:

The multiplier each day is ...

(1/2)^(t/15)

Then we want to find t such that ...

5 = 160·(1/2)^(t/15) . . . . . . 5 mg are left after t days

5/160 = (1/2)^(t/15) . . . . . . divide by 160

1/32 = (1/2)^5 = (1/2)^(t/15) . . . . rewrite the left side

Equating exponents (equivalent to taking logs), we get ...

5 = t/15

5·15 = 75 = t . . . . . multiply by 15 to find t

After 75 days, there will be 5 mg left.

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