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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = \frac{1}{5}, - \frac{1}{2}

x=\frac{1}{5} , -\frac{1}{2}

Decimal form:

x = 0.2, - 0.5

x=0.2 , -0.5

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
$| - 3 x + 2 | = | 7 x |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| - 3 x + 2 \| = \| 7 x \|$
$x = + y$	$(- 3 x + 2) = (7 x)$
$x = - y$	$(- 3 x + 2) = - (7 x)$
$+ x = y$	$(- 3 x + 2) = (7 x)$
$- x = y$	$- (- 3 x + 2) = (7 x)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| - 3 x + 2 \| = \| 7 x \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(- 3 x + 2) = (7 x)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(- 3 x + 2) = - (7 x)$

2. Solve the two equations for x

12 additional steps

$(- 3 x + 2) = 7 x$

Subtract from both sides:

$(- 3 x + 2) - 7 x = (7 x) - 7 x$

Group like terms:

$(- 3 x - 7 x) + 2 = (7 x) - 7 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

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

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 10 x + 2 = 0$

Subtract from both sides:

$(- 10 x + 2) - 2 = 0 - 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 10 x = 0 - 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 10 x = - 2$

Divide both sides by :

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

Cancel out the negatives:

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

Simplify the fraction:

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

Cancel out the negatives:

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

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

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

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = \frac{1}{5}$

9 additional steps

$(- 3 x + 2) = - 7 x$

Subtract from both sides:

$(- 3 x + 2) - 2 = (- 7 x) - 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 3 x = (- 7 x) - 2$

Add to both sides:

$(- 3 x) + 7 x = ((- 7 x) - 2) + 7 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

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

Group like terms:

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

Simplify the arithmetic:

$4 x = - 2$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(4 x)}{4} = \frac{- 2}{4}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 2}{4}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

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

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = \frac{- 1}{2}$

3. List the solutions

$x = \frac{1}{5}, - \frac{1}{2}$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | - 3 x + 2 |$
$y = | 7 x |$
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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