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 and f (1) = 173. What does the 1 represent?

A) The starting amount of the isotope

B) The amount of the isotope after one year

C) The rate the isotope decreases

D) The number of years that have passed

B. The number of years that have passed

Hello!

For the given equation, f (x) = 346 (1/2) ^x, every year, the radioactive isotope which is, 346, decreases in half, and in this function x represents each year. So if you were to substitute 1 into the function, you would get:

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

f (1) = 346 (1/2)

f (1) = 173

So therefore, the answer is B, the amount of the isotope after one year.