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An element with a mass of 350 grams decays by 
6.6% per minute. To the nearest minute, how long will it be until there are 230 grams of the element remaining?
Answer:

An element with a mass of 350350 grams decays by 6.6% 6.6 \% per minute. To the nearest minute, how long will it be until there are 230230 grams of the element remaining?\newlineAnswer:

Full solution

Q. An element with a mass of 350350 grams decays by 6.6% 6.6 \% per minute. To the nearest minute, how long will it be until there are 230230 grams of the element remaining?\newlineAnswer:
  1. Determine Decay Formula: Determine the decay formula.\newlineThe decay of an element can be described by an exponential decay formula, which is P(t)=P0ektP(t) = P_0 \cdot e^{-kt}, where P0P_0 is the initial amount, P(t)P(t) is the amount at time tt, kk is the decay constant, and ee is the base of the natural logarithm.
  2. Convert to Decay Constant: Convert the percentage decay rate to a decay constant.\newlineThe decay rate is given as 6.6%6.6\% per minute, which means that k=0.066k = 0.066 per minute because 6.6%=6.6100=0.0666.6\% = \frac{6.6}{100} = 0.066.
  3. Set Up Equation: Set up the equation with the given values.\newlineWe have P0=350P_0 = 350 grams, P(t)=230P(t) = 230 grams, and k=0.066k = 0.066. The equation becomes 230=350×e(0.066t)230 = 350 \times e^{(-0.066t)}.
  4. Solve for t: Solve for t.\newlineTo isolate tt, we first divide both sides by 350350, getting 230350=e0.066t\frac{230}{350} = e^{-0.066t}. Then we take the natural logarithm of both sides to get ln(230350)=ln(e0.066t)=0.066t\ln(\frac{230}{350}) = \ln(e^{-0.066t}) = -0.066t.
  5. Calculate Time: Calculate the time tt. We continue the calculation: t=ln(230350)/0.066t = \ln(\frac{230}{350}) / -0.066. First, calculate the natural logarithm of the ratio 230350\frac{230}{350}, which is approximately ln(0.6571)\ln(0.6571). Then divide by 0.066-0.066 to find tt.
  6. Perform Calculations: Perform the calculations.\newlineUsing a calculator, we find ln(0.6571)0.4196\ln(0.6571) \approx -0.4196. Then we divide 0.4196-0.4196 by 0.066-0.066 to get t6.3561t \approx 6.3561 minutes.
  7. Round to Nearest Minute: Round the time to the nearest minute.\newlineSince the question asks for the time to the nearest minute, we round 6.35616.3561 to 66 minutes.

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