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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: n=4213,-6
n=\frac{42}{13} , -6
Mixed number form: n=3313,-6
n=3\frac{3}{13} , -6
Decimal form: n=3.231,6
n=3.231 , -6

Other Ways to Solve

Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

1. Rewrite the equation without absolute value bars

Use the rules:
|x|=|y|x=±y and |x|=|y|±x=y
to write all four options of the equation
|-12n+7|=|53n|
without the absolute value bars:

|x|=|y||-12n+7|=|53n|
x=+y(-12n+7)=(53n)
x=-y(-12n+7)=-(53n)
+x=y(-12n+7)=(53n)
-x=y-(-12n+7)=(53n)

When simplified, equations x=+y and +x=y are the same and equations x=y and x=y are the same, so we end up with only 2 equations:

|x|=|y||-12n+7|=|53n|
x=+y , +x=y(-12n+7)=(53n)
x=-y , -x=y(-12n+7)=-(53n)

2. Solve the two equations for n

23 additional steps

(-12·n+7)=53n

Subtract from both sides:

(-12n+7)-53·n=(53n)-53n

Group like terms:

(-12·n+-53·n)+7=(53·n)-53n

Group the coefficients:

(-12+-53)n+7=(53·n)-53n

Find the lowest common denominator:

((-1·3)(2·3)+(-5·2)(3·2))n+7=(53·n)-53n

Multiply the denominators:

((-1·3)6+(-5·2)6)n+7=(53·n)-53n

Multiply the numerators:

(-36+-106)n+7=(53·n)-53n

Combine the fractions:

(-3-10)6·n+7=(53·n)-53n

Combine the numerators:

-136·n+7=(53·n)-53n

Combine the fractions:

-136·n+7=(5-5)3n

Combine the numerators:

-136·n+7=03n

Reduce the zero numerator:

-136n+7=0n

Simplify the arithmetic:

-136n+7=0

Subtract from both sides:

(-136n+7)-7=0-7

Simplify the arithmetic:

-136n=0-7

Simplify the arithmetic:

-136n=-7

Multiply both sides by inverse fraction :

(-136n)·6-13=-7·6-13

Move the negative sign from the denominator to the numerator:

-136n·-613=-7·6-13

Group like terms:

(-136·-613)n=-7·6-13

Multiply the coefficients:

(-13·-6)(6·13)n=-7·6-13

Simplify the arithmetic:

1n=-7·6-13

n=-7·6-13

Move the negative sign from the denominator to the numerator:

n=-7·-613

Multiply the fraction(s):

n=(-7·-6)13

Simplify the arithmetic:

n=4213

19 additional steps

(-12·n+7)=-53n

Subtract from both sides:

(-12n+7)-7=(-53n)-7

Simplify the arithmetic:

-12·n=(-53n)-7

Add to both sides:

(-12n)+53·n=(-53n-7)+53n

Group the coefficients:

(-12+53)n=(-53·n-7)+53n

Find the lowest common denominator:

((-1·3)(2·3)+(5·2)(3·2))n=(-53·n-7)+53n

Multiply the denominators:

((-1·3)6+(5·2)6)n=(-53·n-7)+53n

Multiply the numerators:

(-36+106)n=(-53·n-7)+53n

Combine the fractions:

(-3+10)6·n=(-53·n-7)+53n

Combine the numerators:

76·n=(-53·n-7)+53n

Group like terms:

76·n=(-53·n+53n)-7

Combine the fractions:

76·n=(-5+5)3n-7

Combine the numerators:

76·n=03n-7

Reduce the zero numerator:

76n=0n-7

Simplify the arithmetic:

76n=-7

Multiply both sides by inverse fraction :

(76n)·67=-7·67

Group like terms:

(76·67)n=-7·67

Multiply the coefficients:

(7·6)(6·7)n=-7·67

Simplify the fraction:

n=-7·67

Multiply the fraction(s):

n=(-7·6)7

Simplify the arithmetic:

n=6

3. List the solutions

n=4213,-6
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
y=|-12n+7|
y=|53n|
The equation is true where the two lines cross.

Why learn this

We encounter absolute values almost daily. For example: If you walk 3 miles to school, do you also walk minus 3 miles when you go back home? The answer is no because distances use absolute value. The absolute value of the distance between home and school is 3 miles, there or back.
In short, absolute values help us deal with concepts like distance, ranges of possible values, and deviation from a set value.