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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = \frac{1}{7}, \frac{1}{3}

x=\frac{1}{7} , \frac{1}{3}

Decimal form:

x = 0.143, 0.333

x=0.143 , 0.333

See steps

Step-by-step explanation

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

$| 2 x | + | 5 x - 1 | = 0$

Add $- | 5 x - 1 |$ to both sides of the equation:

$| 2 x | + | 5 x - 1 | - | 5 x - 1 | = - | 5 x - 1 |$

Simplify the arithmetic

$| 2 x | = - | 5 x - 1 |$

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
$| 2 x | = - | 5 x - 1 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 2 x \| = - \| 5 x - 1 \|$
$x = + y$	$(2 x) = - (5 x - 1)$
$x = - y$	$(2 x) = - - (5 x - 1)$
$+ x = y$	$(2 x) = - (5 x - 1)$
$- x = y$	$- (2 x) = - (5 x - 1)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 2 x \| = - \| 5 x - 1 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(2 x) = - (5 x - 1)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(2 x) = - - (5 x - 1)$

3. Solve the two equations for x

6 additional steps

$2 x = - (5 x - 1)$

Expand the parentheses:

$2 x = - 5 x + 1$

Add to both sides:

$(2 x) + 5 x = (- 5 x + 1) + 5 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$7 x = (- 5 x + 1) + 5 x$

Group like terms:

$7 x = (- 5 x + 5 x) + 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$7 x = 1$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(7 x)}{7} = \frac{1}{7}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{1}{7}$

8 additional steps

$2 x = - (- (5 x - 1))$

NT_MSLUS_MAINSTEP_RESOLVE_DOUBLE_MINUS:

$2 x = 5 x - 1$

Subtract from both sides:

$(2 x) - 5 x = (5 x - 1) - 5 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 3 x = (5 x - 1) - 5 x$

Group like terms:

$- 3 x = (5 x - 5 x) - 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 3 x = - 1$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(- 3 x)}{- 3} = \frac{- 1}{- 3}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$\frac{3 x}{3} = \frac{- 1}{- 3}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 1}{- 3}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$x = \frac{1}{3}$

4. List the solutions

$x = \frac{1}{7}, \frac{1}{3}$
(2 solution(s))

5. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | 2 x |$
$y = - | 5 x - 1 |$
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