How many years old is a fossilized tree if it contains 25% of its original carbon-14? (half-life of carbon-14 = 5,730 years)

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The half-life of carbon-14 is 5,730 years. This means that after 5,730 years, half of the original carbon-14 will have decayed. After another 5,730 years, half of the remaining carbon-14 will have decayed, and so on.If a fossilized tree contains 25% of its original carbon-14, then it has lost 75% of its original carbon-14. This means that it has gone through three half-lives, or 3 * 5,730 = 17,190 years.

How Many Years Old Is a Fossilized Tree If It