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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: d=34,-3
d=\frac{3}{4} , -3
Decimal form: d=0.75,3
d=0.75 , -3

Other Ways to Solve

Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

1. Rewrite the equation without absolute value bars

Use the rules:
|x|=|y|x=±y and |x|=|y|±x=y
to write all four options of the equation
|4d3|=|4d+3|
without the absolute value bars:

|x|=|y||4d3|=|4d+3|
x=+y(4d3)=(4d+3)
x=y(4d3)=(4d+3)
+x=y(4d3)=(4d+3)
x=y(4d3)=(4d+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||4d3|=|4d+3|
x=+y , +x=y(4d3)=(4d+3)
x=y , x=y(4d3)=(4d+3)

2. Solve the two equations for d

11 additional steps

(4d-3)=(-4d+3)

Add to both sides:

(4d-3)+4d=(-4d+3)+4d

Group like terms:

(4d+4d)-3=(-4d+3)+4d

Simplify the arithmetic:

8d-3=(-4d+3)+4d

Group like terms:

8d-3=(-4d+4d)+3

Simplify the arithmetic:

8d3=3

Add to both sides:

(8d-3)+3=3+3

Simplify the arithmetic:

8d=3+3

Simplify the arithmetic:

8d=6

Divide both sides by :

(8d)8=68

Simplify the fraction:

d=68

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

d=(3·2)(4·2)

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

d=34

5 additional steps

(4d-3)=-(-4d+3)

Expand the parentheses:

(4d-3)=4d-3

Subtract from both sides:

(4d-3)-4d=(4d-3)-4d

Group like terms:

(4d-4d)-3=(4d-3)-4d

Simplify the arithmetic:

-3=(4d-3)-4d

Group like terms:

-3=(4d-4d)-3

Simplify the arithmetic:

3=3

3. List the solutions

d=34,-3
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
y=|4d3|
y=|4d+3|
The equation is true where the two lines cross.

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.