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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

a = 2, \frac{8}{3}

a=2 , \frac{8}{3}

Mixed number form:

a = 2, 2 \frac{2}{3}

a=2 , 2\frac{2}{3}

Decimal form:

a = 2, 2.667

a=2 , 2.667

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
$| 2 a - 5 | = | a - 3 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 2 a - 5 \| = \| a - 3 \|$
$x = + y$	$(2 a - 5) = (a - 3)$
$x = - y$	$(2 a - 5) = - (a - 3)$
$+ x = y$	$(2 a - 5) = (a - 3)$
$- x = y$	$- (2 a - 5) = (a - 3)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 2 a - 5 \| = \| a - 3 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(2 a - 5) = (a - 3)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(2 a - 5) = - (a - 3)$

2. Solve the two equations for a

7 additional steps

$(2 a - 5) = (a - 3)$

Subtract from both sides:

$(2 a - 5) - a = (a - 3) - a$

Group like terms:

$(2 a - a) - 5 = (a - 3) - a$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$a - 5 = (a - 3) - a$

Group like terms:

$a - 5 = (a - a) - 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$a - 5 = - 3$

Add to both sides:

$(a - 5) + 5 = - 3 + 5$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$a = - 3 + 5$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$a = 2$

10 additional steps

$(2 a - 5) = - (a - 3)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(2 a - 5) = - a + 3$

Add to both sides:

$(2 a - 5) + a = (- a + 3) + a$

Group like terms:

$(2 a + a) - 5 = (- a + 3) + a$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$3 a - 5 = (- a + 3) + a$

Group like terms:

$3 a - 5 = (- a + a) + 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$3 a - 5 = 3$

Add to both sides:

$(3 a - 5) + 5 = 3 + 5$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$3 a = 3 + 5$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$3 a = 8$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(3 a)}{3} = \frac{8}{3}$

Simplify the fraction:

$a = \frac{8}{3}$

3. List the solutions

$a = 2, \frac{8}{3}$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | 2 a - 5 |$
$y = | a - 3 |$
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 a

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 a

3. List the solutions

4. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

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