A researcher observes a sample of a nuclide. An exponential model estimates that the mass, in grams, of the sample decreases by every minutes. Which of the following equations could represent this model, where is the estimated mass, in grams, of the sample minutes after the researcher began observing the sample?
Explanation
Question Type: Exponential Decay
💡 Trick: "Decreases by 27%" = multiply by (1 - 0.27) = 0.73
Solution:
- Decrease by 27% = multiply by 0.73
- Every 14.07 minutes → exponent t/14.07
- M = 100(0.73)^(t/14.07)
Answer: C) M = 100(0.73)^(t/14.07)