Exponential Decay: Final Value
How to find the final value of exponential decay: formula, 1 example, and its solution.
Formula
Formula
If a value shows exponential change (growth or decay),
use this formula.
A = A0(1 + r)t
A: Final value
A0: Initial value
r: Rate of change (per time period)
t: Number of time period
Example
Example
Solution
The initial value of the weight is 80g.
So A0 = 80g.
The weight decreases at a rate of 5% per minute.
So r = -0.05/minute.
Write the unit [per minute].
The final value is the weight 1 [hour] later.
But the unit of the rate is [per minute].
So write 1 hour in [minutes]:
t = 60 minutes.
A0 = 80
r = -0.05
t = 60
So the expected weight A is
A = 80(1 - 0.05)60.
(1 - 0.05) = 0.95
It says
assume 0.9560 = 0.046.
So 80⋅0.9560 = 80⋅0.046.
80⋅0.046 = 3.68
The initial value A0 is in g.
So the final value A is 3.68g.
So 3.68g is the answer.