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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

p = \frac{7}{4}

p=\frac{7}{4}

Mixed number form:

p = 1 \frac{3}{4}

p=1\frac{3}{4}

Decimal form:

p = 1.75

p=1.75

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
$| 2 p - 7 | = | 2 p |$
without the absolute value bars:

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

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:

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

2. Solve the two equations for p

4 additional steps

$(2 p - 7) = 2 p$

Subtract from both sides:

$(2 p - 7) - 2 p = (2 p) - 2 p$

Group like terms:

$(2 p - 2 p) - 7 = (2 p) - 2 p$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 7 = (2 p) - 2 p$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 7 = 0$

The statement is false:

$- 7 = 0$

The equation is false so it has no solution.

7 additional steps

$(2 p - 7) = - 2 p$

Add to both sides:

$(2 p - 7) + 7 = (- 2 p) + 7$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 p = (- 2 p) + 7$

Add to both sides:

$(2 p) + 2 p = ((- 2 p) + 7) + 2 p$

Simplify the arithmetic:

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

Group like terms:

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

Simplify the arithmetic:

$4 p = 7$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(4 p)}{4} = \frac{7}{4}$

Simplify the fraction:

$p = \frac{7}{4}$

3. Graph

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

3. 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 p

3. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

Latest Related Drills Solved