Question

The amount of a radioactive isotope decays in half every year. The amount of the isotope can be modeled by f(x) = 346(one half)x and f(1) = 173. What does the 346 represent?

Answer 1

In this case it seems to be the initial amount of the radioactive isotope that you started off with.

Answer 2

346 is initial amount of radioactive isotopes.

Explanation:

The amount of a radioactive isotope decays in half every year.

The amount of the isotope can be modeled by

`f(x)=346((1)/(2))^x`

f(1)=173

We are given half life of isotope is 1 year.

f(x) represents the amount of isotope left after x years.

f(1) represents half amount of radioactive isotope.

If we x=0 into model

`f(0)=346((1)/(2))^0`

`f(0)=346`

x=0 means initial value of time.

Therefore, 346 represents the initial amount of the radioactive isotopes.

Hence, 346 is initial amount of isotopes.