Problem

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Question 1
Suppose a radioactive substance decays at a rate of $4 \%$ per hour.
Question 2
How long does it take until the substance is half of its oriainal weight?

Answer

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Answer

\(\boxed{16.98}\) hours for the substance to decay to half of its original weight.

Steps

Step 1 :Suppose a radioactive substance decays at a rate of $4 \%$ per hour.

Step 2 :How long does it take until the substance is half of its original weight?

Step 3 :Use the formula for exponential decay: \(final\_amount = initial\_amount \times (1 - decay\_rate)^{time}\)

Step 4 :Set up the equation: \(0.5 \times initial\_amount = initial\_amount \times (1 - 0.04)^{time}\)

Step 5 :Solve for time: \(time \approx 16.98\)

Step 6 :\(\boxed{16.98}\) hours for the substance to decay to half of its original weight.

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