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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = - 2

x=-2

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
$| 3 x - 14 | = | 3 x + 26 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 3 x - 14 \| = \| 3 x + 26 \|$
$x = + y$	$(3 x - 14) = (3 x + 26)$
$x = - y$	$(3 x - 14) = - (3 x + 26)$
$+ x = y$	$(3 x - 14) = (3 x + 26)$
$- x = y$	$- (3 x - 14) = (3 x + 26)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 3 x - 14 \| = \| 3 x + 26 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(3 x - 14) = (3 x + 26)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(3 x - 14) = - (3 x + 26)$

2. Solve the two equations for x

5 additional steps

$(3 x - 14) = (3 x + 26)$

Subtract from both sides:

$(3 x - 14) - 3 x = (3 x + 26) - 3 x$

Group like terms:

$(3 x - 3 x) - 14 = (3 x + 26) - 3 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 14 = (3 x + 26) - 3 x$

Group like terms:

$- 14 = (3 x - 3 x) + 26$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 14 = 26$

The statement is false:

$- 14 = 26$

The equation is false so it has no solution.

12 additional steps

$(3 x - 14) = - (3 x + 26)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(3 x - 14) = - 3 x - 26$

Add to both sides:

$(3 x - 14) + 3 x = (- 3 x - 26) + 3 x$

Group like terms:

$(3 x + 3 x) - 14 = (- 3 x - 26) + 3 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$6 x - 14 = (- 3 x - 26) + 3 x$

Group like terms:

$6 x - 14 = (- 3 x + 3 x) - 26$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$6 x - 14 = - 26$

Add to both sides:

$(6 x - 14) + 14 = - 26 + 14$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$6 x = - 26 + 14$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$6 x = - 12$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(6 x)}{6} = \frac{- 12}{6}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 12}{6}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

$x = \frac{(- 2 \cdot 6)}{(1 \cdot 6)}$

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = - 2$

3. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | 3 x - 14 |$
$y = | 3 x + 26 |$
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. 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. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

Latest Related Drills Solved