Question

Suppose the value of your new car is reduced by half every year that you own it. You paid $20,000 for your new car. Describe how this situation is similar to the half-life of a radioactive substance?

Answer 1

The total price of the car is $20,000 but each year its price decrese by halve of the catual price, so the first year the new price will be:

$\frac{20000}{2}=10000$

so he reduce $10,000 dollar, but the next year it cost will decrease halve of the actula price so will be:

$\frac{10000}{2}=5000$

and is the same with a radiactive element that has 20,000 grams hi will reduce the same amounts, the only diference is that one reduces his mass and the other one reduces his value