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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: x=-12,-52
x=-\frac{1}{2} , -\frac{5}{2}
Mixed number form: x=-12,-212
x=-\frac{1}{2} , -2\frac{1}{2}
Decimal form: x=0.5,2.5
x=-0.5 , -2.5

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
|-3x-52|=|2x|
without the absolute value bars:

|x|=|y||-3x-52|=|2x|
x=+y(-3x-52)=(2x)
x=-y(-3x-52)=-(2x)
+x=y(-3x-52)=(2x)
-x=y-(-3x-52)=(2x)

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||-3x-52|=|2x|
x=+y , +x=y(-3x-52)=(2x)
x=-y , -x=y(-3x-52)=-(2x)

2. Solve the two equations for x

14 additional steps

(-3x+-52)=2x

Subtract from both sides:

(-3x+-52)-2x=(2x)-2x

Group like terms:

(-3x-2x)+-52=(2x)-2x

Simplify the arithmetic:

-5x+-52=(2x)-2x

Simplify the arithmetic:

-5x+-52=0

Add to both sides:

(-5x+-52)+52=0+52

Combine the fractions:

-5x+(-5+5)2=0+52

Combine the numerators:

-5x+02=0+52

Reduce the zero numerator:

-5x+0=0+52

Simplify the arithmetic:

-5x=0+52

Simplify the arithmetic:

-5x=52

Divide both sides by :

(-5x)-5=(52)-5

Cancel out the negatives:

5x5=(52)-5

Simplify the fraction:

x=(52)-5

Simplify the arithmetic:

x=5(2·-5)

x=-12

11 additional steps

(-3x+-52)=-2x

Add to both sides:

(-3x+-52)+52=(-2x)+52

Combine the fractions:

-3x+(-5+5)2=(-2x)+52

Combine the numerators:

-3x+02=(-2x)+52

Reduce the zero numerator:

-3x+0=(-2x)+52

Simplify the arithmetic:

-3x=(-2x)+52

Add to both sides:

(-3x)+2x=((-2x)+52)+2x

Simplify the arithmetic:

-x=((-2x)+52)+2x

Group like terms:

-x=(-2x+2x)+52

Simplify the arithmetic:

-x=52

Multiply both sides by :

-x·-1=(52)·-1

Remove the one(s):

x=(52)·-1

Remove the one(s):

x=-52

3. List the solutions

x=-12,-52
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
y=|-3x-52|
y=|2x|
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.