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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = 6, \frac{3}{2}

x=6 , \frac{3}{2}

Mixed number form:

x = 6, 1 \frac{1}{2}

x=6 , 1\frac{1}{2}

Decimal form:

x = 6, 1.5

x=6 , 1.5

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
$| 3 x | = | 5 x - 12 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 3 x \| = \| 5 x - 12 \|$
$x = + y$	$(3 x) = (5 x - 12)$
$x = - y$	$(3 x) = - (5 x - 12)$
$+ x = y$	$(3 x) = (5 x - 12)$
$- x = y$	$- (3 x) = (5 x - 12)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 3 x \| = \| 5 x - 12 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(3 x) = (5 x - 12)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(3 x) = - (5 x - 12)$

2. Solve the two equations for x

9 additional steps

$3 x = (5 x - 12)$

Subtract from both sides:

$(3 x) - 5 x = (5 x - 12) - 5 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 2 x = (5 x - 12) - 5 x$

Group like terms:

$- 2 x = (5 x - 5 x) - 12$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 2 x = - 12$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(- 2 x)}{- 2} = \frac{- 12}{- 2}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$\frac{2 x}{2} = \frac{- 12}{- 2}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 12}{- 2}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$x = \frac{12}{2}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

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

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = 6$

8 additional steps

$3 x = - (5 x - 12)$

Expand the parentheses:

$3 x = - 5 x + 12$

Add to both sides:

$(3 x) + 5 x = (- 5 x + 12) + 5 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$8 x = (- 5 x + 12) + 5 x$

Group like terms:

$8 x = (- 5 x + 5 x) + 12$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$8 x = 12$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(8 x)}{8} = \frac{12}{8}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{12}{8}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

$x = \frac{(3 \cdot 4)}{(2 \cdot 4)}$

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = \frac{3}{2}$

3. List the solutions

$x = 6, \frac{3}{2}$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | 3 x |$
$y = | 5 x - 12 |$
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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