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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = \frac{2}{3}, - \frac{6}{7}

x=\frac{2}{3} , -\frac{6}{7}

Decimal form:

x = 0.667, - 0.857

x=0.667 , -0.857

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
$| - 5 x - 2 | = | - 2 x - 4 |$
without the absolute value bars:

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

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:

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

2. Solve the two equations for x

11 additional steps

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

Add to both sides:

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

Group like terms:

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

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 3 x - 2 = (- 2 x - 4) + 2 x$

Group like terms:

$- 3 x - 2 = (- 2 x + 2 x) - 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 3 x - 2 = - 4$

Add to both sides:

$(- 3 x - 2) + 2 = - 4 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 3 x = - 4 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 3 x = - 2$

Divide both sides by :

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

Cancel out the negatives:

$\frac{3 x}{3} = \frac{- 2}{- 3}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 2}{- 3}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$x = \frac{2}{3}$

12 additional steps

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

Expand the parentheses:

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

Subtract from both sides:

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

Group like terms:

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

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 7 x - 2 = (2 x + 4) - 2 x$

Group like terms:

$- 7 x - 2 = (2 x - 2 x) + 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 7 x - 2 = 4$

Add to both sides:

$(- 7 x - 2) + 2 = 4 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 7 x = 4 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 7 x = 6$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(- 7 x)}{- 7} = \frac{6}{- 7}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$\frac{7 x}{7} = \frac{6}{- 7}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{6}{- 7}$

Move the negative sign from the denominator to the numerator:

$x = \frac{- 6}{7}$

3. List the solutions

$x = \frac{2}{3}, - \frac{6}{7}$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | - 5 x - 2 |$
$y = | - 2 x - 4 |$
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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