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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = 5, 5

x=5 , 5

See steps

Step-by-step explanation

1. Rewrite the equation with one absolute value terms on each side

$| 4 x - 20 | + | 3 x - 15 | = 0$

Add $- | 3 x - 15 |$ to both sides of the equation:

$| 4 x - 20 | + | 3 x - 15 | - | 3 x - 15 | = - | 3 x - 15 |$

Simplify the arithmetic

$| 4 x - 20 | = - | 3 x - 15 |$

2. 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
$| 4 x - 20 | = - | 3 x - 15 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 4 x - 20 \| = - \| 3 x - 15 \|$
$x = + y$	$(4 x - 20) = - (3 x - 15)$
$x = - y$	$(4 x - 20) = - - (3 x - 15)$
$+ x = y$	$(4 x - 20) = - (3 x - 15)$
$- x = y$	$- (4 x - 20) = - (3 x - 15)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 4 x - 20 \| = - \| 3 x - 15 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(4 x - 20) = - (3 x - 15)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(4 x - 20) = - - (3 x - 15)$

3. Solve the two equations for x

12 additional steps

$(4 x - 20) = - (3 x - 15)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(4 x - 20) = - 3 x + 15$

Add to both sides:

$(4 x - 20) + 3 x = (- 3 x + 15) + 3 x$

Group like terms:

$(4 x + 3 x) - 20 = (- 3 x + 15) + 3 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$7 x - 20 = (- 3 x + 15) + 3 x$

Group like terms:

$7 x - 20 = (- 3 x + 3 x) + 15$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$7 x - 20 = 15$

Add to both sides:

$(7 x - 20) + 20 = 15 + 20$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$7 x = 15 + 20$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$7 x = 35$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(7 x)}{7} = \frac{35}{7}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{35}{7}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

$x = \frac{(5 \cdot 7)}{(1 \cdot 7)}$

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = 5$

8 additional steps

$(4 x - 20) = - (- (3 x - 15))$

NT_MSLUS_MAINSTEP_RESOLVE_DOUBLE_MINUS:

$(4 x - 20) = 3 x - 15$

Subtract from both sides:

$(4 x - 20) - 3 x = (3 x - 15) - 3 x$

Group like terms:

$(4 x - 3 x) - 20 = (3 x - 15) - 3 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$x - 20 = (3 x - 15) - 3 x$

Group like terms:

$x - 20 = (3 x - 3 x) - 15$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$x - 20 = - 15$

Add to both sides:

$(x - 20) + 20 = - 15 + 20$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$x = - 15 + 20$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$x = 5$

4. List the solutions

$x = 5, 5$
(2 solution(s))

5. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | 4 x - 20 |$
$y = - | 3 x - 15 |$
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 with one absolute value terms on each side

2. Rewrite the equation without absolute value bars

3. Solve the two equations for x

4. List the solutions

5. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

Solution - Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

1. Rewrite the equation with one absolute value terms on each side

2. Rewrite the equation without absolute value bars

3. Solve the two equations for x

4. List the solutions

5. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

Latest Related Drills Solved