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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = \frac{2}{9}, \frac{2}{3}

x=\frac{2}{9} , \frac{2}{3}

Decimal form:

x = 0.222, 0.667

x=0.222 , 0.667

See steps

Step-by-step explanation

1. Rewrite the equation with one absolute value terms on each side

$| - 6 x + 2 | - 3 | x | = 0$

Add $3 | x |$ to both sides of the equation:

$| - 6 x + 2 | - 3 | x | + 3 | x | = 3 | x |$

Simplify the arithmetic

$| - 6 x + 2 | = 3 | x |$

2. 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
$| - 6 x + 2 | = 3 | x |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| - 6 x + 2 \| = 3 \| x \|$
$x = + y$	$(- 6 x + 2) = 3 (x)$
$x = - y$	$(- 6 x + 2) = 3 (- (x))$
$+ x = y$	$(- 6 x + 2) = 3 (x)$
$- x = y$	$- (- 6 x + 2) = 3 (x)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| - 6 x + 2 \| = 3 \| x \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(- 6 x + 2) = 3 (x)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(- 6 x + 2) = 3 (- (x))$

3. Solve the two equations for x

10 additional steps

$(- 6 x + 2) = 3 x$

Subtract from both sides:

$(- 6 x + 2) - 3 x = (3 x) - 3 x$

Group like terms:

$(- 6 x - 3 x) + 2 = (3 x) - 3 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 9 x + 2 = (3 x) - 3 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 9 x + 2 = 0$

Subtract from both sides:

$(- 9 x + 2) - 2 = 0 - 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 9 x = 0 - 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 9 x = - 2$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(- 9 x)}{- 9} = \frac{- 2}{- 9}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$\frac{9 x}{9} = \frac{- 2}{- 9}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 2}{- 9}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$x = \frac{2}{9}$

12 additional steps

$(- 6 x + 2) = 3 \cdot - x$

Group like terms:

$(- 6 x + 2) = (3 \cdot - 1) x$

Multiply the coefficients:

$(- 6 x + 2) = - 3 x$

Add to both sides:

$(- 6 x + 2) + 3 x = (- 3 x) + 3 x$

Group like terms:

$(- 6 x + 3 x) + 2 = (- 3 x) + 3 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

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

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 3 x + 2 = 0$

Subtract from both sides:

$(- 3 x + 2) - 2 = 0 - 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 3 x = 0 - 2$

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:

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

4. List the solutions

$x = \frac{2}{9}, \frac{2}{3}$
(2 solution(s))

5. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | - 6 x + 2 |$
$y = 3 | x |$
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 with one absolute value terms on each side

2. Rewrite the equation without absolute value bars

3. Solve the two equations for x

4. List the solutions

5. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

Solution - Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

1. Rewrite the equation with one absolute value terms on each side

2. Rewrite the equation without absolute value bars

3. Solve the two equations for x

4. List the solutions

5. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

Latest Related Drills Solved