Enter an equation or problem

Camera input is not recognized!

Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

i = 0

i=0

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
$| i + 1 | = | - i + 1 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| i + 1 \| = \| - i + 1 \|$
$x = + y$	$(i + 1) = (- i + 1)$
$x = - y$	$(i + 1) = - (- i + 1)$
$+ x = y$	$(i + 1) = (- i + 1)$
$- x = y$	$- (i + 1) = (- i + 1)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| i + 1 \| = \| - i + 1 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(i + 1) = (- i + 1)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(i + 1) = - (- i + 1)$

2. Solve the two equations for i

8 additional steps

$(i + 1) = (- i + 1)$

Add to both sides:

$(i + 1) + i = (- i + 1) + i$

Group like terms:

$(i + i) + 1 = (- i + 1) + i$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 i + 1 = (- i + 1) + i$

Group like terms:

$2 i + 1 = (- i + i) + 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 i + 1 = 1$

Subtract from both sides:

$(2 i + 1) - 1 = 1 - 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 i = 1 - 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 i = 0$

Divide both sides by the coefficient:

$i = 0$

6 additional steps

$(i + 1) = - (- i + 1)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(i + 1) = i - 1$

Subtract from both sides:

$(i + 1) - i = (i - 1) - i$

Group like terms:

$(i - i) + 1 = (i - 1) - i$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$1 = (i - 1) - i$

Group like terms:

$1 = (i - i) - 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$1 = - 1$

The statement is false:

$1 = - 1$

The equation is false so it has no solution.

3. List the solutions

$i = 0$
(1 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | i + 1 |$
$y = | - i + 1 |$
The equation is true where the two lines cross.

How did we do?

Please leave us feedback.

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 i

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 i

3. List the solutions

4. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

Latest Related Drills Solved