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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = \frac{6}{7}, \frac{14}{3}

x=\frac{6}{7} , \frac{14}{3}

Mixed number form:

x = \frac{6}{7}, 4 \frac{2}{3}

x=\frac{6}{7} , 4\frac{2}{3}

Decimal form:

x = 0.857, 4.667

x=0.857 , 4.667

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
$| - 5 x + 10 | = | 2 x + 4 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| - 5 x + 10 \| = \| 2 x + 4 \|$
$x = + y$	$(- 5 x + 10) = (2 x + 4)$
$x = - y$	$(- 5 x + 10) = - (2 x + 4)$
$+ x = y$	$(- 5 x + 10) = (2 x + 4)$
$- x = y$	$- (- 5 x + 10) = (2 x + 4)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| - 5 x + 10 \| = \| 2 x + 4 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(- 5 x + 10) = (2 x + 4)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(- 5 x + 10) = - (2 x + 4)$

2. Solve the two equations for x

11 additional steps

$(- 5 x + 10) = (2 x + 4)$

Subtract from both sides:

$(- 5 x + 10) - 2 x = (2 x + 4) - 2 x$

Group like terms:

$(- 5 x - 2 x) + 10 = (2 x + 4) - 2 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 7 x + 10 = (2 x + 4) - 2 x$

Group like terms:

$- 7 x + 10 = (2 x - 2 x) + 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 7 x + 10 = 4$

Subtract from both sides:

$(- 7 x + 10) - 10 = 4 - 10$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 7 x = 4 - 10$

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:

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

Cancel out the negatives:

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

12 additional steps

$(- 5 x + 10) = - (2 x + 4)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(- 5 x + 10) = - 2 x - 4$

Add to both sides:

$(- 5 x + 10) + 2 x = (- 2 x - 4) + 2 x$

Group like terms:

$(- 5 x + 2 x) + 10 = (- 2 x - 4) + 2 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 3 x + 10 = (- 2 x - 4) + 2 x$

Group like terms:

$- 3 x + 10 = (- 2 x + 2 x) - 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 3 x + 10 = - 4$

Subtract from both sides:

$(- 3 x + 10) - 10 = - 4 - 10$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 3 x = - 4 - 10$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 3 x = - 14$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(- 3 x)}{- 3} = \frac{- 14}{- 3}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$\frac{3 x}{3} = \frac{- 14}{- 3}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 14}{- 3}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$x = \frac{14}{3}$

3. List the solutions

$x = \frac{6}{7}, \frac{14}{3}$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | - 5 x + 10 |$
$y = | 2 x + 4 |$
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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