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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = - 1, \frac{13}{7}

x=-1 , \frac{13}{7}

Mixed number form:

x = - 1, 1 \frac{6}{7}

x=-1 , 1\frac{6}{7}

Decimal form:

x = - 1, 1.857

x=-1 , 1.857

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
$| 3 x - 7 | = | 4 x - 6 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 3 x - 7 \| = \| 4 x - 6 \|$
$x = + y$	$(3 x - 7) = (4 x - 6)$
$x = - y$	$(3 x - 7) = - (4 x - 6)$
$+ x = y$	$(3 x - 7) = (4 x - 6)$
$- x = y$	$- (3 x - 7) = (4 x - 6)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 3 x - 7 \| = \| 4 x - 6 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(3 x - 7) = (4 x - 6)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(3 x - 7) = - (4 x - 6)$

2. Solve the two equations for x

10 additional steps

$(3 x - 7) = (4 x - 6)$

Subtract from both sides:

$(3 x - 7) - 4 x = (4 x - 6) - 4 x$

Group like terms:

$(3 x - 4 x) - 7 = (4 x - 6) - 4 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

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

Group like terms:

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

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- x - 7 = - 6$

Add to both sides:

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

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- x = - 6 + 7$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- x = 1$

Multiply both sides by :

$- x \cdot - 1 = 1 \cdot - 1$

Remove the one(s):

$x = 1 \cdot - 1$

Remove the one(s):

$x = - 1$

10 additional steps

$(3 x - 7) = - (4 x - 6)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(3 x - 7) = - 4 x + 6$

Add to both sides:

$(3 x - 7) + 4 x = (- 4 x + 6) + 4 x$

Group like terms:

$(3 x + 4 x) - 7 = (- 4 x + 6) + 4 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

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

Group like terms:

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

Simplify the arithmetic:

$7 x - 7 = 6$

Add to both sides:

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

Simplify the arithmetic:

$7 x = 6 + 7$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$7 x = 13$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(7 x)}{7} = \frac{13}{7}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{13}{7}$

3. List the solutions

$x = - 1, \frac{13}{7}$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | 3 x - 7 |$
$y = | 4 x - 6 |$
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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