The amount left after N half lives equals 12N times the beginning amount.
Question 139
A half-life is the amount of time that it takes for a radioactive substance to decay one-half of its original quantity. Suppose radioactive decay causes 300 grams of a substance to decrease 300×2−3 grams after 3 half-lives. Evaluate 300×2−3 to determine how many grams of the substance is left. Explain why the expression 300×2−n can be used to find the amount of the substance that remains after n half-lives.