The temperature of the city changed by -20 degrees Celsius over a 4 week period. The temperature changed by the same amount each week

ending amount = beginning amount / (2^n)

where "n" = number of half-lives (or elapsed time / half-life)

ending amount = 50 mg / (2 ^10 / 5.3)

ending amount = 50 mg / (2 ^ 1.8867924528)

ending amount = 50 m / 3.6981210597

ending amount = 13.5203794557 mg

or about 13.5 mg remain

source:  

x^2 + 81

we can factor this using difference of square binomials.

rewrite the equation:

x^2 - (-81)

factor:

(a^2 - b^2) = (√a^2 + √b^2)(√a^2 - √b^2)

(x^2 - (-81) = (x + √-81)(x - √-81)

we can remove the - from under the radical by multiplying it by i.

(x^2 - (-81) = (x + i√81)(x - i√81)

(x^2 - (-81) = (x + 9i)(x - 9i)

we can check our answer by using foil:

x^2 - 9ix + 9ix - 81i^2

x^2 - 81^2

i^2 = -1

x^2 + 81