Understanding Exponential Decay

What is the half-life of cesium-137?

• 90 years

• 60 years

• 30 years

• 15 years

In exponential notation, what does the exponent indicate?

• The number of times the base is added

• The number of times the base is divided

• The number of times the base is used as a factor

• The number of times the base is subtracted

What is a common misunderstanding when raising a fraction to a power?

• Not applying the power at all

• Applying the power to both numerator and denominator

• Applying the power to the denominator only

• Applying the power to the numerator only

What happens to a quantity during exponential growth?

• It increases

• It fluctuates

• It remains constant

• It decreases

After two half-lives, what fraction of the original amount remains?

• 1/2

• 1/4

• 1/8

• 1/16

How many kilograms of cesium-137 remain after 150 years?

• 200 kilograms

• 150 kilograms

• 100 kilograms

• 93 kilograms

What does the graph of an exponential decay function do over time?

• Crosses the x-axis

• Levels off and never crosses the x-axis

• Increases indefinitely

• Decreases to zero