The radionuclide 32P (T1/2 = 14.28 d) is often used as a tracer to follow the course of biochemical reactions involving phosphorus.

(a) If the counting rate in a particular experimental setup is initially 3050 counts/s, how much time will the rate take to fall to 170counts/s?

(b) A solution containing 32P is fed to the root system of an experimental tomato plant, and the 32P activity in a leaf is measured 3.48 days later. By what factor must this reading be multiplied to correct for the decay that has occurred since the experiment began?