Question

Living matter has a carbon-14 activity of about 16 counts/min per gram of carbon. What is the age of an artifact for of which the carbon-14 activity is 8 counts/min per gram carbon?

Answer 1

`"16 counts per minute x" (1/2) = "8 counts per minute x" (1/2) = 4 "counts per minute."`
`"It takes two half-lives to have a decay rate of 4 counts per minute."`
`"The half-live of carbon-14 is 5730 years. "`
`"5730 years x 2 = 11,460 years old. "`