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From satellites to the London Olympics, all in one career

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Discover why the number 6174 is so mysterious.

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September 2008
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radioactive decay

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Arguably, the exponential function crops up more than any other when using mathematics to describe the physical world. In the second of two articles on physical phenomena which obey exponential laws, Ian Garbett discusses radioactive decay.

Tags: mathematical modelling : exponential law : logarithmic decay : carbon dating : radioactive decay