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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

u = - \frac{3}{8}

u=-\frac{3}{8}

Decimal form:

u = - 0.375

u=-0.375

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

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

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:

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

2. Solve the two equations for u

5 additional steps

$(4 u - 2) = (4 u + 5)$

Subtract from both sides:

$(4 u - 2) - 4 u = (4 u + 5) - 4 u$

Group like terms:

$(4 u - 4 u) - 2 = (4 u + 5) - 4 u$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 2 = (4 u + 5) - 4 u$

Group like terms:

$- 2 = (4 u - 4 u) + 5$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 2 = 5$

The statement is false:

$- 2 = 5$

The equation is false so it has no solution.

10 additional steps

$(4 u - 2) = - (4 u + 5)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(4 u - 2) = - 4 u - 5$

Add to both sides:

$(4 u - 2) + 4 u = (- 4 u - 5) + 4 u$

Group like terms:

$(4 u + 4 u) - 2 = (- 4 u - 5) + 4 u$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$8 u - 2 = (- 4 u - 5) + 4 u$

Group like terms:

$8 u - 2 = (- 4 u + 4 u) - 5$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$8 u - 2 = - 5$

Add to both sides:

$(8 u - 2) + 2 = - 5 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$8 u = - 5 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$8 u = - 3$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(8 u)}{8} = \frac{- 3}{8}$

Simplify the fraction:

$u = \frac{- 3}{8}$

3. Graph

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

3. 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 u

3. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

Latest Related Drills Solved