Potassium-40 has a half life of 1.251×billion<span> years</span><span>. To determine the percentage potassium-40 remaining after 3.9 billion years, divide 3.9 by 1.251, = 3.12.
This is the number of times the original amount of potassium-40 reduces by 50%. The remaining percentage is therefore 100%/(3.12 * 2) = 16.03%.</span>