16Hit1600
Advanced MathVery hardPercent decrease per period from a scaled exponent

Advanced Math practice question

The function P(t) = 500(0.8)^(t/3) models the amount of a substance, in grams, t hours after a measurement. By what percent does the amount decrease every 3 hours?

Answer: 20

When t increases by 3, the exponent increases by 1, so P is multiplied by 0.8: a 20% decrease.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 80
80% is what remains, not the decrease.
If you answered 6.67
6.67% would be the naive per-hour figure, 20/3, which is not what the question asks.
If you answered 0.8
0.8 is the multiplier, not a percent decrease.

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