You are on an archaeological dig and discover a strange artifact. It is a utensil that appears to be carved out of

Question

an elephant's tusk You analyze it and discover that it has 0.625 the amount of carbon-14 you would find in a living specimen.

1.How many half-lives has the specimen been through?

2. How old is the specimen?

3.How much of the present amount of carbon-14 will still be in the artifact in another 11,460 years ?

Answer 1

.625 is 5/8, so 3/8 have decayed away.

.5^x = .375
x = log.375/log.5
x = 1.41 half-lives

Look up the half-life of carbon to answer the other parts.