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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = 9, - 4

x=9 , -4

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
$| 3 x - 1 | = | x + 17 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 3 x - 1 \| = \| x + 17 \|$
$x = + y$	$(3 x - 1) = (x + 17)$
$x = - y$	$(3 x - 1) = - (x + 17)$
$+ x = y$	$(3 x - 1) = (x + 17)$
$- x = y$	$- (3 x - 1) = (x + 17)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 3 x - 1 \| = \| x + 17 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(3 x - 1) = (x + 17)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(3 x - 1) = - (x + 17)$

2. Solve the two equations for x

11 additional steps

$(3 x - 1) = (x + 17)$

Subtract from both sides:

$(3 x - 1) - x = (x + 17) - x$

Group like terms:

$(3 x - x) - 1 = (x + 17) - x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 x - 1 = (x + 17) - x$

Group like terms:

$2 x - 1 = (x - x) + 17$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 x - 1 = 17$

Add to both sides:

$(2 x - 1) + 1 = 17 + 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 x = 17 + 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 x = 18$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(2 x)}{2} = \frac{18}{2}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{18}{2}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

$x = \frac{(9 \cdot 2)}{(1 \cdot 2)}$

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = 9$

12 additional steps

$(3 x - 1) = - (x + 17)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(3 x - 1) = - x - 17$

Add to both sides:

$(3 x - 1) + x = (- x - 17) + x$

Group like terms:

$(3 x + x) - 1 = (- x - 17) + x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$4 x - 1 = (- x - 17) + x$

Group like terms:

$4 x - 1 = (- x + x) - 17$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$4 x - 1 = - 17$

Add to both sides:

$(4 x - 1) + 1 = - 17 + 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$4 x = - 17 + 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$4 x = - 16$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(4 x)}{4} = \frac{- 16}{4}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 16}{4}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

$x = \frac{(- 4 \cdot 4)}{(1 \cdot 4)}$

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = - 4$

3. List the solutions

$x = 9, - 4$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | 3 x - 1 |$
$y = | x + 17 |$
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 x

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 x

3. List the solutions

4. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

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