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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = \frac{9}{2}, - \frac{5}{4}

x=\frac{9}{2} , -\frac{5}{4}

Mixed number form:

x = 4 \frac{1}{2}, - 1 \frac{1}{4}

x=4\frac{1}{2} , -1\frac{1}{4}

Decimal form:

x = 4.5, - 1.25

x=4.5 , -1.25

See steps

Step-by-step explanation

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

$| 3 x - 2 | - | x + 7 | = 0$

Add $| x + 7 |$ to both sides of the equation:

$| 3 x - 2 | - | x + 7 | + | x + 7 | = | x + 7 |$

Simplify the arithmetic

$| 3 x - 2 | = | x + 7 |$

2. 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
$| 3 x - 2 | = | x + 7 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 3 x - 2 \| = \| x + 7 \|$
$x = + y$	$(3 x - 2) = (x + 7)$
$x = - y$	$(3 x - 2) = (- (x + 7))$
$+ x = y$	$(3 x - 2) = (x + 7)$
$- x = y$	$- (3 x - 2) = (x + 7)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 3 x - 2 \| = \| x + 7 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(3 x - 2) = (x + 7)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(3 x - 2) = (- (x + 7))$

3. Solve the two equations for x

9 additional steps

$(3 x - 2) = (x + 7)$

Subtract from both sides:

$(3 x - 2) - x = (x + 7) - x$

Group like terms:

$(3 x - x) - 2 = (x + 7) - x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 x - 2 = (x + 7) - x$

Group like terms:

$2 x - 2 = (x - x) + 7$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 x - 2 = 7$

Add to both sides:

$(2 x - 2) + 2 = 7 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 x = 7 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 x = 9$

Divide both sides by :

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

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{9}{2}$

10 additional steps

$(3 x - 2) = - (x + 7)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(3 x - 2) = - x - 7$

Add to both sides:

$(3 x - 2) + x = (- x - 7) + x$

Group like terms:

$(3 x + x) - 2 = (- x - 7) + x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$4 x - 2 = (- x - 7) + x$

Group like terms:

$4 x - 2 = (- x + x) - 7$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$4 x - 2 = - 7$

Add to both sides:

$(4 x - 2) + 2 = - 7 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$4 x = - 7 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$4 x = - 5$

Divide both sides by :

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

Simplify the fraction:

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

4. List the solutions

$x = \frac{9}{2}, - \frac{5}{4}$
(2 solution(s))

5. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | 3 x - 2 |$
$y = | x + 7 |$
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 with one absolute value terms on each side

2. Rewrite the equation without absolute value bars

3. Solve the two equations for x

4. List the solutions

5. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

Solution - Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

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

2. Rewrite the equation without absolute value bars

3. Solve the two equations for x

4. List the solutions

5. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

Latest Related Drills Solved