You find a fossil, and through careful study you find that only one-sixteenth of the carbon-14 that it once contained is still remaining in it. Carbon-14 has a half-life of approximately 5700 years. You can conclude that the age of the fossil is about .a. 4 × 5700 yr = 22,800 years
b. 16 × 5700 yr = 91,200 years
c. 1/16 × 5700 yr = 356 years
d. 5 × 5700 yr = 28,500 years

The correct answer is:

5×5700 yr = 28,500 years (d)

Explanation:

The half life of an element/atom is the time is takes for that element/atom to decay to half of its original mass/size.

It was found that the carbon-14 atom had decayed until only of the original size is still remaining.

Now, let us first find how many half lives are in one-sixteenth, and that is = . so it means that there are 4 half lives in one-sixteenth, and since one half life takes approximately 5700 years, therefore 4 half lives will take 4×5700 yr = 22, 800 years, but at this point (22,800 years ago)the fossil has already half-life, therefore the additional age is to add the number of years it took to decay that half life. hence the age of fossil is:

22,800 + 5700 = 28, 500 years

rational decision making is a multi-step process for making choices between alternatives. the process of rational decision making favors logic, objectivity, and analysis over subjectivity and insight. the word “rational” in this context does not mean sane or clear-headed as it does in the colloquial sense.

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