The half life of Carbon-14 is 5730 years, how many years would it take for 7/8 of the original amount to decay?

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Answer 1 · 2017-12-30T02:57:34

$17190$ years.

The half-life of carbon-14 is $5730$ years.

Therefore, after

$1$ half-life there is $50%=1/2$ of the original amount left.

$2$ half-lives there is $25%=1/4$ of the original amount left.

$3$ half-lives there is $12.5%=1/8$ of the original amount left.

$1-7/8=1/8$

So, your answer would be the time it takes for carbon-14 to elapse 3 half-lives.

$5730*3=17190$