Skeletal remains had lost 84% of the C-14 they originally contained. Determine the approximate age of the bones. (Assume the half life of carbon-14 is 5730 years. Round your answer to the nearest whole number.)

Answer 1

(1/2)^t/5730 = .16
t/5730 = log(.16)/log(.5)
t = 5730*log(.16)/log(.5)
t = 15149

makes sense. 12.5% left would be three half-lives, or 17190 years