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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = - 3, - \frac{7}{9}

x=-3 , -\frac{7}{9}

Decimal form:

x = - 3, - 0.778

x=-3 , -0.778

See steps

Step-by-step explanation

1. Rewrite the equation without absolute value bars

Use the rules:
$| x | = | y |$ → $x = \pm y$ and $| x | = | y |$ → $\pm x = y$
to write all four options of the equation
$| - 4 x - 2 | = | - 5 x - 5 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| - 4 x - 2 \| = \| - 5 x - 5 \|$
$x = + y$	$(- 4 x - 2) = (- 5 x - 5)$
$x = - y$	$(- 4 x - 2) = - (- 5 x - 5)$
$+ x = y$	$(- 4 x - 2) = (- 5 x - 5)$
$- x = y$	$- (- 4 x - 2) = (- 5 x - 5)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| - 4 x - 2 \| = \| - 5 x - 5 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(- 4 x - 2) = (- 5 x - 5)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(- 4 x - 2) = - (- 5 x - 5)$

2. Solve the two equations for x

7 additional steps

$(- 4 x - 2) = (- 5 x - 5)$

Add to both sides:

$(- 4 x - 2) + 5 x = (- 5 x - 5) + 5 x$

Group like terms:

$(- 4 x + 5 x) - 2 = (- 5 x - 5) + 5 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

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

Group like terms:

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

Simplify the arithmetic:

$x - 2 = - 5$

Add to both sides:

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

Simplify the arithmetic:

$x = - 5 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$x = - 3$

12 additional steps

$(- 4 x - 2) = - (- 5 x - 5)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(- 4 x - 2) = 5 x + 5$

Subtract from both sides:

$(- 4 x - 2) - 5 x = (5 x + 5) - 5 x$

Group like terms:

$(- 4 x - 5 x) - 2 = (5 x + 5) - 5 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 9 x - 2 = (5 x + 5) - 5 x$

Group like terms:

$- 9 x - 2 = (5 x - 5 x) + 5$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 9 x - 2 = 5$

Add to both sides:

$(- 9 x - 2) + 2 = 5 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 9 x = 5 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 9 x = 7$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(- 9 x)}{- 9} = \frac{7}{- 9}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$\frac{9 x}{9} = \frac{7}{- 9}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{7}{- 9}$

Move the negative sign from the denominator to the numerator:

$x = \frac{- 7}{9}$

3. List the solutions

$x = - 3, - \frac{7}{9}$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | - 4 x - 2 |$
$y = | - 5 x - 5 |$
The equation is true where the two lines cross.

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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.

Solution - Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

1. Rewrite the equation without absolute value bars

2. Solve the two equations for x

3. List the solutions

4. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

Solution - Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

1. Rewrite the equation without absolute value bars

2. Solve the two equations for x

3. List the solutions

4. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

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