Question

The number of years, N(r), since two independently evolving languages split off from a common ancestral language is approximated by N(r)= -5000 1n r, where r is the proportion of the words from the ancestral language that is common to both languages now. Find each of the following.find n if r=88%

Answer 1

just plug and chug.
N(.88) = -5000 ln(.88) ≈ 639