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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

y = \frac{4}{3}, - 4

y=\frac{4}{3} , -4

Mixed number form:

y = 1 \frac{1}{3}, - 4

y=1\frac{1}{3} , -4

Decimal form:

y = 1.333, - 4

y=1.333 , -4

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
$| 3 y - 4 | = | - 3 y + 4 |$
without the absolute value bars:

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

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:

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

2. Solve the two equations for y

11 additional steps

$(3 y - 4) = (- 3 y + 4)$

Add to both sides:

$(3 y - 4) + 3 y = (- 3 y + 4) + 3 y$

Group like terms:

$(3 y + 3 y) - 4 = (- 3 y + 4) + 3 y$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$6 y - 4 = (- 3 y + 4) + 3 y$

Group like terms:

$6 y - 4 = (- 3 y + 3 y) + 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$6 y - 4 = 4$

Add to both sides:

$(6 y - 4) + 4 = 4 + 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$6 y = 4 + 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$6 y = 8$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(6 y)}{6} = \frac{8}{6}$

Simplify the fraction:

$y = \frac{8}{6}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

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

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$y = \frac{4}{3}$

5 additional steps

$(3 y - 4) = - (- 3 y + 4)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(3 y - 4) = 3 y - 4$

Subtract from both sides:

$(3 y - 4) - 3 y = (3 y - 4) - 3 y$

Group like terms:

$(3 y - 3 y) - 4 = (3 y - 4) - 3 y$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 4 = (3 y - 4) - 3 y$

Group like terms:

$- 4 = (3 y - 3 y) - 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 4 = - 4$

3. List the solutions

$y = \frac{4}{3}, - 4$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

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

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 y

3. List the solutions

4. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

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