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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

a = 1, \frac{1}{7}

a=1 , \frac{1}{7}

Decimal form:

a = 1, 0.143

a=1 , 0.143

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
$| 3 a | = | 4 a - 1 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 3 a \| = \| 4 a - 1 \|$
$x = + y$	$(3 a) = (4 a - 1)$
$x = - y$	$(3 a) = - (4 a - 1)$
$+ x = y$	$(3 a) = (4 a - 1)$
$- x = y$	$- (3 a) = (4 a - 1)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 3 a \| = \| 4 a - 1 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(3 a) = (4 a - 1)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(3 a) = - (4 a - 1)$

2. Solve the two equations for a

6 additional steps

$3 a = (4 a - 1)$

Subtract from both sides:

$(3 a) - 4 a = (4 a - 1) - 4 a$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- a = (4 a - 1) - 4 a$

Group like terms:

$- a = (4 a - 4 a) - 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- a = - 1$

Multiply both sides by :

$- a \cdot - 1 = - 1 \cdot - 1$

Remove the one(s):

$a = - 1 \cdot - 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$a = 1$

6 additional steps

$3 a = - (4 a - 1)$

Expand the parentheses:

$3 a = - 4 a + 1$

Add to both sides:

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

Simplify the arithmetic:

$7 a = (- 4 a + 1) + 4 a$

Group like terms:

$7 a = (- 4 a + 4 a) + 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$7 a = 1$

Divide both sides by :

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

Simplify the fraction:

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

3. List the solutions

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

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | 3 a |$
$y = | 4 a - 1 |$
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 without absolute value bars

2. Solve the two equations for a

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 a

3. List the solutions

4. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

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