If a sample of organic material contains 1/8 of the radioactive $^{14} C$ $"^14C$ than a modern day sample and the half-life for $^{14} C$ $"^14C$ is 5,730 years, approximately how old is the order sample of organic material?

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Answer 1 · 2018-04-02T17:36:45

3 half lives or 17,190 years.

$\frac{1}{8} = \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{1}{2}$ $1/8 = 1/2 xx 1/2 xx 1/2$ or three half lives.

each half live is 5730 years ( approximately ) so

$3 \times 5730 = 17190$ $3 xx 5730 = 17190$

If a sample of organic material contains 1/8 of the radioactive 14C"^14C than a modern day sample and the half-life for 14C"^14C is 5,730 years, approximately how old is the order sample of organic material?