How to Find the Half-Life of an Isotope from Decay Rate Measurements?

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Measurements of a certain isotope tell you that the decay rate decreases from 8339 decays/minute to 3037 decays/minute over a period of 4.50 days. What is the half-life T_1/2 of this isotope in days?I know that i have to relate the ratio of decay rates to the ratio of undecayed nuclei present at each time, but i don't know which formula to use to find half life after that.
 
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So, the decay rate is simply proportional to the number of undecayed nuclei:

\frac{dN}{dt}=\lambda N

The half life is defined as the time it takes for N to decease to N/2. Can you see where to go from there?
 
Thread 'Need help understanding this figure on energy levels'

Thread 'Need help understanding this figure on energy levels'

This figure is from "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" by Griffiths (3rd edition). It is available to download. It is from page 142. I am hoping the usual people on this site will give me a hand understanding what is going on in the figure. After the equation (4.50) it says "It is customary to introduce the principal quantum number, ##n##, which simply orders the allowed energies, starting with 1 for the ground state. (see the figure)" I still don't understand the figure :( Here is...
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Thread 'Understanding how to "tack on" the time wiggle factor'

Thread 'Understanding how to "tack on" the time wiggle factor'

The last problem I posted on QM made it into advanced homework help, that is why I am putting it here. I am sorry for any hassle imposed on the moderators by myself. Part (a) is quite easy. We get $$\sigma_1 = 2\lambda, \mathbf{v}_1 = \begin{pmatrix} 0 \\ 0 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix} \sigma_2 = \lambda, \mathbf{v}_2 = \begin{pmatrix} 1/\sqrt{2} \\ 1/\sqrt{2} \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} \sigma_3 = -\lambda, \mathbf{v}_3 = \begin{pmatrix} 1/\sqrt{2} \\ -1/\sqrt{2} \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} $$ There are two ways...
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