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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: i=7,-17
i=7 , -\frac{1}{7}
Decimal form: i=7,0.143
i=7 , -0.143

Other Ways to Solve

Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

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

|4i+3|+|3i+4|=0

Add |3i+4| to both sides of the equation:

|4i+3|+|3i+4||3i+4|=|3i+4|

Simplify the arithmetic

|4i+3|=|3i+4|

2. 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
|4i+3|=|3i+4|
without the absolute value bars:

|x|=|y||4i+3|=|3i+4|
x=+y(4i+3)=(3i+4)
x=y(4i+3)=(3i+4)
+x=y(4i+3)=(3i+4)
x=y(4i+3)=(3i+4)

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||4i+3|=|3i+4|
x=+y , +x=y(4i+3)=(3i+4)
x=y , x=y(4i+3)=(3i+4)

3. Solve the two equations for i

11 additional steps

(-4i+3)=-(3i+4)

Expand the parentheses:

(-4i+3)=-3i-4

Add to both sides:

(-4i+3)+3i=(-3i-4)+3i

Group like terms:

(-4i+3i)+3=(-3i-4)+3i

Simplify the arithmetic:

-i+3=(-3i-4)+3i

Group like terms:

-i+3=(-3i+3i)-4

Simplify the arithmetic:

i+3=4

Subtract from both sides:

(-i+3)-3=-4-3

Simplify the arithmetic:

i=43

Simplify the arithmetic:

i=7

Multiply both sides by :

-i·-1=-7·-1

Remove the one(s):

i=-7·-1

Simplify the arithmetic:

i=7

12 additional steps

(-4i+3)=-(-(3i+4))

NT_MSLUS_MAINSTEP_RESOLVE_DOUBLE_MINUS:

(-4i+3)=3i+4

Subtract from both sides:

(-4i+3)-3i=(3i+4)-3i

Group like terms:

(-4i-3i)+3=(3i+4)-3i

Simplify the arithmetic:

-7i+3=(3i+4)-3i

Group like terms:

-7i+3=(3i-3i)+4

Simplify the arithmetic:

7i+3=4

Subtract from both sides:

(-7i+3)-3=4-3

Simplify the arithmetic:

7i=43

Simplify the arithmetic:

7i=1

Divide both sides by :

(-7i)-7=1-7

Cancel out the negatives:

7i7=1-7

Simplify the fraction:

i=1-7

Move the negative sign from the denominator to the numerator:

i=-17

4. List the solutions

i=7,-17
(2 solution(s))

5. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
y=|4i+3|
y=|3i+4|
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.