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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = - 5, \frac{4}{5}

x=-5 , \frac{4}{5}

Decimal form:

x = - 5, 0.8

x=-5 , 0.8

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
$| 3 x - 14 | = | 7 x + 6 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 3 x - 14 \| = \| 7 x + 6 \|$
$x = + y$	$(3 x - 14) = (7 x + 6)$
$x = - y$	$(3 x - 14) = - (7 x + 6)$
$+ x = y$	$(3 x - 14) = (7 x + 6)$
$- x = y$	$- (3 x - 14) = (7 x + 6)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 3 x - 14 \| = \| 7 x + 6 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(3 x - 14) = (7 x + 6)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(3 x - 14) = - (7 x + 6)$

2. Solve the two equations for x

13 additional steps

$(3 x - 14) = (7 x + 6)$

Subtract from both sides:

$(3 x - 14) - 7 x = (7 x + 6) - 7 x$

Group like terms:

$(3 x - 7 x) - 14 = (7 x + 6) - 7 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 4 x - 14 = (7 x + 6) - 7 x$

Group like terms:

$- 4 x - 14 = (7 x - 7 x) + 6$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 4 x - 14 = 6$

Add to both sides:

$(- 4 x - 14) + 14 = 6 + 14$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 4 x = 6 + 14$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 4 x = 20$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(- 4 x)}{- 4} = \frac{20}{- 4}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$\frac{4 x}{4} = \frac{20}{- 4}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{20}{- 4}$

Move the negative sign from the denominator to the numerator:

$x = \frac{- 20}{4}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

$x = \frac{(- 5 \cdot 4)}{(1 \cdot 4)}$

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = - 5$

12 additional steps

$(3 x - 14) = - (7 x + 6)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(3 x - 14) = - 7 x - 6$

Add to both sides:

$(3 x - 14) + 7 x = (- 7 x - 6) + 7 x$

Group like terms:

$(3 x + 7 x) - 14 = (- 7 x - 6) + 7 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$10 x - 14 = (- 7 x - 6) + 7 x$

Group like terms:

$10 x - 14 = (- 7 x + 7 x) - 6$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$10 x - 14 = - 6$

Add to both sides:

$(10 x - 14) + 14 = - 6 + 14$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$10 x = - 6 + 14$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$10 x = 8$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(10 x)}{10} = \frac{8}{10}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{8}{10}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

$x = \frac{(4 \cdot 2)}{(5 \cdot 2)}$

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = \frac{4}{5}$

3. List the solutions

$x = - 5, \frac{4}{5}$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | 3 x - 14 |$
$y = | 7 x + 6 |$
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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