The maximum of the PVF (the time when it is most likely that a given CMB photon last scattered) is known quite precisely. The first-year WMAP results put the time at which P(t) has a maximum as 372,000 years. This is often taken as the "time" at which the CMB formed. However, to figure out how it took the photons and baryons to decouple, we need a measure of the width of the PVF. The WMAP team finds that the PVF is greater than half of its maximal value (the "full width at half maximum", or FWHM) over an interval of 115,000 years. By this measure, decoupling took place over roughly 115,000 years, and thus when it was complete, the universe was roughly 487,000 years old.
the maximum of the pvF (tHe TiME wheN IT iS mOSt lIKELy THAt A giVEn cmB PhOTON lasT SCattered) iS known qUITe PreciselY. THE fIrst-YeAR wMap resuLts put ThE TimE at whIcH P(t) Has a MaxiMUm as 372,000 yeARS. ThiS iS OFten takeN as tHe "TiME" at WhiCh The CmB foRmed. howeVer, to FiguRe ouT How It took The PHOToNS aNd Baryons to dECouplE, we need A MeasUre of THE WidTh OF the Pvf. The wmap team finds tHat the pvf iS greAteR than Half of iTS maximal valUE (THe "full WiDth aT half maximum", or fwHM) over aN iNteRval OF 115,000 yeArS. bY this meASuRe, DEcoUplIng toOk pLaCe oveR RougHLY 115,000 Years, and thus when iT was coMPlEte, ThE uNivERSe waS RoughLY 487,000 yeArs oLd.