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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: v=-13,-5
v=-\frac{1}{3} , -5
Decimal form: v=0.333,5
v=-0.333 , -5

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
|4v+6|=|2v+4|
without the absolute value bars:

|x|=|y||4v+6|=|2v+4|
x=+y(4v+6)=(2v+4)
x=y(4v+6)=(2v+4)
+x=y(4v+6)=(2v+4)
x=y(4v+6)=(2v+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||4v+6|=|2v+4|
x=+y , +x=y(4v+6)=(2v+4)
x=y , x=y(4v+6)=(2v+4)

2. Solve the two equations for v

11 additional steps

(4v+6)=(-2v+4)

Add to both sides:

(4v+6)+2v=(-2v+4)+2v

Group like terms:

(4v+2v)+6=(-2v+4)+2v

Simplify the arithmetic:

6v+6=(-2v+4)+2v

Group like terms:

6v+6=(-2v+2v)+4

Simplify the arithmetic:

6v+6=4

Subtract from both sides:

(6v+6)-6=4-6

Simplify the arithmetic:

6v=46

Simplify the arithmetic:

6v=2

Divide both sides by :

(6v)6=-26

Simplify the fraction:

v=-26

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

v=(-1·2)(3·2)

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

v=-13

12 additional steps

(4v+6)=-(-2v+4)

Expand the parentheses:

(4v+6)=2v-4

Subtract from both sides:

(4v+6)-2v=(2v-4)-2v

Group like terms:

(4v-2v)+6=(2v-4)-2v

Simplify the arithmetic:

2v+6=(2v-4)-2v

Group like terms:

2v+6=(2v-2v)-4

Simplify the arithmetic:

2v+6=4

Subtract from both sides:

(2v+6)-6=-4-6

Simplify the arithmetic:

2v=46

Simplify the arithmetic:

2v=10

Divide both sides by :

(2v)2=-102

Simplify the fraction:

v=-102

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

v=(-5·2)(1·2)

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

v=5

3. List the solutions

v=-13,-5
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
y=|4v+6|
y=|2v+4|
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.