Question

How does radioactive decay relate to radiometric dating?

Answer 1

To know the relation between radioactive decay and the radioactive dating, we should go through the explanation of both the radioactive decay and the radiometric dating, we will come to know the relation between both of them.

Complete answer:
The ease of using the formula for radioactive decay with common elements found in nature make it a powerful tool.
Radiometric dating is the technique of using isotopic ratios of common elements to determine the age (approximate) of materials associated with the element, such as trees, rock strata, fossils, human artifacts and the like.
Because radioactive decay follows a specific mathematical formula and is dependent upon unique decay rates (half-lives) of each element, formulas can be developed that compare the measured amounts of different elemental isotopes. The ratio of the difference is related mathematically to the time that it took for the original sample to decay into the ratios found.
That is the time duration that is used for radiometric dating.
In other words: the relation between radioactive decay and the radiometric dating- When a radioactive isotope breaks down into a stable isotope of other elements. By using radioactive decay you can find out how old something is which relates to radiometric dating.

Note:
Radioactive dating or radioisotope dating is a technique which is used to date materials such as rocks or carbon, in which trace radioactive impurities were selectively incorporated when they were formed.