Uranium-238 (U-238) has a half-life of 4.5 billion years. Geologists find a rock containing a mixture of U-238 and lead, and determine that 54% of the original U-238 remains; the other 46% has decayed into lead. How old is the rock?

Calculus For The Life Sciences
2nd Edition
ISBN:9780321964038
Author:GREENWELL, Raymond N., RITCHEY, Nathan P., Lial, Margaret L.
Publisher:GREENWELL, Raymond N., RITCHEY, Nathan P., Lial, Margaret L.
Chapter2: Exponential, Logarithmic, And Trigonometric Functions
Section2.3: Applications: Growth And Decay
Problem 20E: Half-Life The half-life of plutonium-241 is approximately 13 years. How much of a sample weighing 4...
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Uranium-238 (U-238) has a half-life of 4.5 billion years. Geologists find a rock containing a mixture of U-238 and lead,
and determine that 54% of the original U-238 remains; the other 46% has decayed into lead. How old is the rock?
The rock is billion years old.
(Round to three decimal places as needed.)
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Transcribed Image Text:Uranium-238 (U-238) has a half-life of 4.5 billion years. Geologists find a rock containing a mixture of U-238 and lead, and determine that 54% of the original U-238 remains; the other 46% has decayed into lead. How old is the rock? The rock is billion years old. (Round to three decimal places as needed.) Clear all Check answer Us
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