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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

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

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

Decimal form:

x = 0.25, - 1

x=0.25 , -1

See steps

Step-by-step explanation

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

$| 2 x - 3 | + | 6 x + 1 | = 0$

Add $- | 6 x + 1 |$ to both sides of the equation:

$| 2 x - 3 | + | 6 x + 1 | - | 6 x + 1 | = - | 6 x + 1 |$

Simplify the arithmetic

$| 2 x - 3 | = - | 6 x + 1 |$

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
$| 2 x - 3 | = - | 6 x + 1 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 2 x - 3 \| = - \| 6 x + 1 \|$
$x = + y$	$(2 x - 3) = - (6 x + 1)$
$x = - y$	$(2 x - 3) = - - (6 x + 1)$
$+ x = y$	$(2 x - 3) = - (6 x + 1)$
$- x = y$	$- (2 x - 3) = - (6 x + 1)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 2 x - 3 \| = - \| 6 x + 1 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(2 x - 3) = - (6 x + 1)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(2 x - 3) = - - (6 x + 1)$

3. Solve the two equations for x

12 additional steps

$(2 x - 3) = - (6 x + 1)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(2 x - 3) = - 6 x - 1$

Add to both sides:

$(2 x - 3) + 6 x = (- 6 x - 1) + 6 x$

Group like terms:

$(2 x + 6 x) - 3 = (- 6 x - 1) + 6 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$8 x - 3 = (- 6 x - 1) + 6 x$

Group like terms:

$8 x - 3 = (- 6 x + 6 x) - 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$8 x - 3 = - 1$

Add to both sides:

$(8 x - 3) + 3 = - 1 + 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$8 x = - 1 + 3$

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:

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

13 additional steps

$(2 x - 3) = - (- (6 x + 1))$

NT_MSLUS_MAINSTEP_RESOLVE_DOUBLE_MINUS:

$(2 x - 3) = 6 x + 1$

Subtract from both sides:

$(2 x - 3) - 6 x = (6 x + 1) - 6 x$

Group like terms:

$(2 x - 6 x) - 3 = (6 x + 1) - 6 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 4 x - 3 = (6 x + 1) - 6 x$

Group like terms:

$- 4 x - 3 = (6 x - 6 x) + 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 4 x - 3 = 1$

Add to both sides:

$(- 4 x - 3) + 3 = 1 + 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 4 x = 1 + 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 4 x = 4$

Divide both sides by :

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

Cancel out the negatives:

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

Simplify the fraction:

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

Move the negative sign from the denominator to the numerator:

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

Simplify the fraction:

$x = - 1$

4. List the solutions

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

5. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | 2 x - 3 |$
$y = - | 6 x + 1 |$
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