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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: y=-90,3019
y=-90 , \frac{30}{19}
Mixed number form: y=-90,11119
y=-90 , 1\frac{11}{19}
Decimal form: y=90,1.579
y=-90 , 1.579

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
|35y-4|=|23y+2|
without the absolute value bars:

|x|=|y||35y-4|=|23y+2|
x=+y(35y-4)=(23y+2)
x=-y(35y-4)=-(23y+2)
+x=y(35y-4)=(23y+2)
-x=y-(35y-4)=(23y+2)

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||35y-4|=|23y+2|
x=+y , +x=y(35y-4)=(23y+2)
x=-y , -x=y(35y-4)=-(23y+2)

2. Solve the two equations for y

21 additional steps

(35·y-4)=(23y+2)

Subtract from both sides:

(35y-4)-23·y=(23y+2)-23y

Group like terms:

(35·y+-23·y)-4=(23·y+2)-23y

Group the coefficients:

(35+-23)y-4=(23·y+2)-23y

Find the lowest common denominator:

((3·3)(5·3)+(-2·5)(3·5))y-4=(23·y+2)-23y

Multiply the denominators:

((3·3)15+(-2·5)15)y-4=(23·y+2)-23y

Multiply the numerators:

(915+-1015)y-4=(23·y+2)-23y

Combine the fractions:

(9-10)15·y-4=(23·y+2)-23y

Combine the numerators:

-115·y-4=(23·y+2)-23y

Group like terms:

-115·y-4=(23·y+-23y)+2

Combine the fractions:

-115·y-4=(2-2)3y+2

Combine the numerators:

-115·y-4=03y+2

Reduce the zero numerator:

-115y-4=0y+2

Simplify the arithmetic:

-115y-4=2

Add to both sides:

(-115y-4)+4=2+4

Simplify the arithmetic:

-115y=2+4

Simplify the arithmetic:

-115y=6

Multiply both sides by inverse fraction :

(-115y)·15-1=6·15-1

Group like terms:

(-115·-15)y=6·15-1

Multiply the coefficients:

(-1·-15)15y=6·15-1

Simplify the arithmetic:

1y=6·15-1

y=6·15-1

Simplify the arithmetic:

y=90

22 additional steps

(35y-4)=-(23y+2)

Expand the parentheses:

(35·y-4)=-23y-2

Add to both sides:

(35y-4)+23·y=(-23y-2)+23y

Group like terms:

(35·y+23·y)-4=(-23·y-2)+23y

Group the coefficients:

(35+23)y-4=(-23·y-2)+23y

Find the lowest common denominator:

((3·3)(5·3)+(2·5)(3·5))y-4=(-23·y-2)+23y

Multiply the denominators:

((3·3)15+(2·5)15)y-4=(-23·y-2)+23y

Multiply the numerators:

(915+1015)y-4=(-23·y-2)+23y

Combine the fractions:

(9+10)15·y-4=(-23·y-2)+23y

Combine the numerators:

1915·y-4=(-23·y-2)+23y

Group like terms:

1915·y-4=(-23·y+23y)-2

Combine the fractions:

1915·y-4=(-2+2)3y-2

Combine the numerators:

1915·y-4=03y-2

Reduce the zero numerator:

1915y-4=0y-2

Simplify the arithmetic:

1915y-4=-2

Add to both sides:

(1915y-4)+4=-2+4

Simplify the arithmetic:

1915y=-2+4

Simplify the arithmetic:

1915y=2

Multiply both sides by inverse fraction :

(1915y)·1519=2·1519

Group like terms:

(1915·1519)y=2·1519

Multiply the coefficients:

(19·15)(15·19)y=2·1519

Simplify the fraction:

y=2·1519

Multiply the fraction(s):

y=(2·15)19

Simplify the arithmetic:

y=3019

3. List the solutions

y=-90,3019
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
y=|35y-4|
y=|23y+2|
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.