Algebra II : Radioactive Decay Equations

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Algebra II

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Example Questions

Example Question #3451 : Algebra Ii

An element has a half life of 6 days.  What is the approximate amount remaining for a 50 mg sample of this element after 5 days?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Write the formula for half life.

Since the time requested is five out of the six day of the half life, the value of  is:

Substitute all the known values into the equation.

The answer is:  

Example Question #3452 : Algebra Ii

The number of butterflies in an exhibit is decreasing at an exponential rate of decay. The number of butterflies is decreasing by  every year. There are  butterflies in the exhibit right now. How many butterflies will be in the exhibit in years? 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Because the butterflies are decreasing exponentially, we can use this equation

 is the final value

 is the original value

The decay for this problem is 5% or 0.05

The period of time is 7 years

Using this equation we can solve for 

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