A 15-g sample of radioactive iodine decays in such a way that the mass remaining after t days is given by
where
is measured in grams. After how many days is there only 1 g remaining?
m(t) = 15e −0.071t
m(t)=15e−0.071t1=15e−0.071t115=e−0.071tln115=lne−0.071tln115=−0.071tln115−0.071=tt=ln115−0.071
ln(115)−0.071=38.1415521282001408
So in 38 days there will be just over 1g left.
In 39 days there will be less than 39 grams left.