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dagg3r
May2-03, 09:43 PM
Radioactive materials are considered to be relatively safe when their activity has fallen below 0.1% of their initial value.
a How many half-lives does this take?

a 0.1% = 0.001, and 1/2^n = 1/1000
n = 10 or 10 half-lives

how did they get n=10

Alexander
May2-03, 10:53 PM
2-x = 0.001, so taking logarithm of both sides you get x = -log2(0.001) = 3log2(10)=3/log10(2)=3/0.301 = 9.97 = 10