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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = \frac{1}{19}, - \frac{3}{14}

x=\frac{1}{19} , -\frac{3}{14}

Decimal form:

x = 0.053, - 0.214

x=0.053 , -0.214

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
$| - 5 x + 4 | = | 33 x + 2 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| - 5 x + 4 \| = \| 33 x + 2 \|$
$x = + y$	$(- 5 x + 4) = (33 x + 2)$
$x = - y$	$(- 5 x + 4) = - (33 x + 2)$
$+ x = y$	$(- 5 x + 4) = (33 x + 2)$
$- x = y$	$- (- 5 x + 4) = (33 x + 2)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| - 5 x + 4 \| = \| 33 x + 2 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(- 5 x + 4) = (33 x + 2)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(- 5 x + 4) = - (33 x + 2)$

2. Solve the two equations for x

13 additional steps

$(- 5 x + 4) = (33 x + 2)$

Subtract from both sides:

$(- 5 x + 4) - 33 x = (33 x + 2) - 33 x$

Group like terms:

$(- 5 x - 33 x) + 4 = (33 x + 2) - 33 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 38 x + 4 = (33 x + 2) - 33 x$

Group like terms:

$- 38 x + 4 = (33 x - 33 x) + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 38 x + 4 = 2$

Subtract from both sides:

$(- 38 x + 4) - 4 = 2 - 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 38 x = 2 - 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 38 x = - 2$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(- 38 x)}{- 38} = \frac{- 2}{- 38}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$\frac{38 x}{38} = \frac{- 2}{- 38}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 2}{- 38}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$x = \frac{2}{38}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

$x = \frac{(1 \cdot 2)}{(19 \cdot 2)}$

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = \frac{1}{19}$

12 additional steps

$(- 5 x + 4) = - (33 x + 2)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(- 5 x + 4) = - 33 x - 2$

Add to both sides:

$(- 5 x + 4) + 33 x = (- 33 x - 2) + 33 x$

Group like terms:

$(- 5 x + 33 x) + 4 = (- 33 x - 2) + 33 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$28 x + 4 = (- 33 x - 2) + 33 x$

Group like terms:

$28 x + 4 = (- 33 x + 33 x) - 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$28 x + 4 = - 2$

Subtract from both sides:

$(28 x + 4) - 4 = - 2 - 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$28 x = - 2 - 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$28 x = - 6$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(28 x)}{28} = \frac{- 6}{28}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 6}{28}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

$x = \frac{(- 3 \cdot 2)}{(14 \cdot 2)}$

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = \frac{- 3}{14}$

3. List the solutions

$x = \frac{1}{19}, - \frac{3}{14}$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | - 5 x + 4 |$
$y = | 33 x + 2 |$
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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