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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = - \frac{3}{5}, 5

x=-\frac{3}{5} , 5

Decimal form:

x = - 0.6, 5

x=-0.6 , 5

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
$| - 4 x - 8 | = | 6 x - 2 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| - 4 x - 8 \| = \| 6 x - 2 \|$
$x = + y$	$(- 4 x - 8) = (6 x - 2)$
$x = - y$	$(- 4 x - 8) = - (6 x - 2)$
$+ x = y$	$(- 4 x - 8) = (6 x - 2)$
$- x = y$	$- (- 4 x - 8) = (6 x - 2)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| - 4 x - 8 \| = \| 6 x - 2 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(- 4 x - 8) = (6 x - 2)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(- 4 x - 8) = - (6 x - 2)$

2. Solve the two equations for x

13 additional steps

$(- 4 x - 8) = (6 x - 2)$

Subtract from both sides:

$(- 4 x - 8) - 6 x = (6 x - 2) - 6 x$

Group like terms:

$(- 4 x - 6 x) - 8 = (6 x - 2) - 6 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 10 x - 8 = (6 x - 2) - 6 x$

Group like terms:

$- 10 x - 8 = (6 x - 6 x) - 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 10 x - 8 = - 2$

Add to both sides:

$(- 10 x - 8) + 8 = - 2 + 8$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 10 x = - 2 + 8$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 10 x = 6$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(- 10 x)}{- 10} = \frac{6}{- 10}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$\frac{10 x}{10} = \frac{6}{- 10}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{6}{- 10}$

Move the negative sign from the denominator to the numerator:

$x = \frac{- 6}{10}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

$x = \frac{(- 3 \cdot 2)}{(5 \cdot 2)}$

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = \frac{- 3}{5}$

12 additional steps

$(- 4 x - 8) = - (6 x - 2)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(- 4 x - 8) = - 6 x + 2$

Add to both sides:

$(- 4 x - 8) + 6 x = (- 6 x + 2) + 6 x$

Group like terms:

$(- 4 x + 6 x) - 8 = (- 6 x + 2) + 6 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 x - 8 = (- 6 x + 2) + 6 x$

Group like terms:

$2 x - 8 = (- 6 x + 6 x) + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 x - 8 = 2$

Add to both sides:

$(2 x - 8) + 8 = 2 + 8$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 x = 2 + 8$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 x = 10$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(2 x)}{2} = \frac{10}{2}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{10}{2}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

$x = \frac{(5 \cdot 2)}{(1 \cdot 2)}$

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = 5$

3. List the solutions

$x = - \frac{3}{5}, 5$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | - 4 x - 8 |$
$y = | 6 x - 2 |$
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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