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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = 1, \frac{1}{3}

x=1 , \frac{1}{3}

Decimal form:

x = 1, 0.333

x=1 , 0.333

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

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

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:

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

2. Solve the two equations for x

8 additional steps

$3 x = (6 x - 3)$

Subtract from both sides:

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

Simplify the arithmetic:

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

Group like terms:

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

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 3 x = - 3$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(- 3 x)}{- 3} = \frac{- 3}{- 3}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$\frac{3 x}{3} = \frac{- 3}{- 3}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 3}{- 3}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$x = \frac{3}{3}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = 1$

8 additional steps

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

Expand the parentheses:

$3 x = - 6 x + 3$

Add to both sides:

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

Simplify the arithmetic:

$9 x = (- 6 x + 3) + 6 x$

Group like terms:

$9 x = (- 6 x + 6 x) + 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$9 x = 3$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(9 x)}{9} = \frac{3}{9}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{3}{9}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

$x = \frac{(1 \cdot 3)}{(3 \cdot 3)}$

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = \frac{1}{3}$

3. List the solutions

$x = 1, \frac{1}{3}$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

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