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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = - \frac{1}{4}, 3

x=-\frac{1}{4} , 3

Decimal form:

x = - 0.25, 3

x=-0.25 , 3

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
$| 2 x + 7 | = | - 6 x + 5 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 2 x + 7 \| = \| - 6 x + 5 \|$
$x = + y$	$(2 x + 7) = (- 6 x + 5)$
$x = - y$	$(2 x + 7) = - (- 6 x + 5)$
$+ x = y$	$(2 x + 7) = (- 6 x + 5)$
$- x = y$	$- (2 x + 7) = (- 6 x + 5)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 2 x + 7 \| = \| - 6 x + 5 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(2 x + 7) = (- 6 x + 5)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(2 x + 7) = - (- 6 x + 5)$

2. Solve the two equations for x

11 additional steps

$(2 x + 7) = (- 6 x + 5)$

Add to both sides:

$(2 x + 7) + 6 x = (- 6 x + 5) + 6 x$

Group like terms:

$(2 x + 6 x) + 7 = (- 6 x + 5) + 6 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$8 x + 7 = (- 6 x + 5) + 6 x$

Group like terms:

$8 x + 7 = (- 6 x + 6 x) + 5$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$8 x + 7 = 5$

Subtract from both sides:

$(8 x + 7) - 7 = 5 - 7$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$8 x = 5 - 7$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$8 x = - 2$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(8 x)}{8} = \frac{- 2}{8}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 2}{8}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

$x = \frac{(- 1 \cdot 2)}{(4 \cdot 2)}$

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = \frac{- 1}{4}$

14 additional steps

$(2 x + 7) = - (- 6 x + 5)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(2 x + 7) = 6 x - 5$

Subtract from both sides:

$(2 x + 7) - 6 x = (6 x - 5) - 6 x$

Group like terms:

$(2 x - 6 x) + 7 = (6 x - 5) - 6 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 4 x + 7 = (6 x - 5) - 6 x$

Group like terms:

$- 4 x + 7 = (6 x - 6 x) - 5$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 4 x + 7 = - 5$

Subtract from both sides:

$(- 4 x + 7) - 7 = - 5 - 7$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 4 x = - 5 - 7$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 4 x = - 12$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(- 4 x)}{- 4} = \frac{- 12}{- 4}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$\frac{4 x}{4} = \frac{- 12}{- 4}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 12}{- 4}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$x = \frac{12}{4}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

$x = \frac{(3 \cdot 4)}{(1 \cdot 4)}$

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = 3$

3. List the solutions

$x = - \frac{1}{4}, 3$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | 2 x + 7 |$
$y = | - 6 x + 5 |$
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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