A hiker in africa discovers a skull that contains 54% of its original amount of c-14. find the age of the skull in the nearest year.

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Mathematics

Kash Sherman

10 July, 13:51

A hiker in africa discovers a skull that contains 54% of its original amount of c-14. find the age of the skull in the nearest year.

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Marie Stewart · Answer 1

The half - life of C - 14 is 5.730 years ( + / - 30 years). Carbon dating has given the archaeologists a more accurate method for the determination of the age of ancient artifacts. The equation is:P (t) = P o * e^ (k t), where: k = - 0.00120968. P (t) = 0.54 (54%) and P o = 1.0.54 = e^ ( - 0.00120968 t) / lnln 0.54 = ln e^ ( - 0.000120968 t) ln 0.54 = - 0.000120968 t) * ln e / (and ln e = 1) - 0.616186 = - 0.000120968 tt = ( - 0.616186) : ( - 0.000120968) t = 5,093.8 ≈ 5,094 yearsAnswer: The age of the skull is 5,094 years.