What is the difference between relative and absolute age? Relative age is the age of a rock layer (or the fossils it contains) compared to other layers. Absolute age is the numeric age of a layer of rocks or fossils. Absolute age can be determined by using radiometric dating.

What is the difference between relative dating and radiometric dating?

Relative dating determines the relative age of rock layers according to their relative depth. However, radiometric dating determines the absolute age with the use of decaying products of the natural radioactive isotopes.