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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: m=0,0
m=0 , 0

Other Ways to Solve

Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

1. Rewrite the equation without absolute value bars

Use the rules:
|x|=|y|x=±y and |x|=|y|±x=y
to write all four options of the equation
|2m|=|m|
without the absolute value bars:

|x|=|y||2m|=|m|
x=+y(2m)=(m)
x=y(2m)=(m)
+x=y(2m)=(m)
x=y(2m)=(m)

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||2m|=|m|
x=+y , +x=y(2m)=(m)
x=y , x=y(2m)=(m)

2. Solve the two equations for m

2 additional steps

2m=m

Subtract from both sides:

(2m)-m=m-m

Simplify the arithmetic:

m=m-m

Simplify the arithmetic:

m=0

3 additional steps

2m=-m

Add to both sides:

(2m)+m=-m+m

Simplify the arithmetic:

3m=-m+m

Simplify the arithmetic:

3m=0

Divide both sides by the coefficient:

m=0

3. List the solutions

m=0,0
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
y=|2m|
y=|m|
The equation is true where the two lines cross.

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.