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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

p = 39, - 3

p=39 , -3

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
$| 5 p - 6 | = | 4 p + 33 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 5 p - 6 \| = \| 4 p + 33 \|$
$x = + y$	$(5 p - 6) = (4 p + 33)$
$x = - y$	$(5 p - 6) = - (4 p + 33)$
$+ x = y$	$(5 p - 6) = (4 p + 33)$
$- x = y$	$- (5 p - 6) = (4 p + 33)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 5 p - 6 \| = \| 4 p + 33 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(5 p - 6) = (4 p + 33)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(5 p - 6) = - (4 p + 33)$

2. Solve the two equations for p

7 additional steps

$(5 p - 6) = (4 p + 33)$

Subtract from both sides:

$(5 p - 6) - 4 p = (4 p + 33) - 4 p$

Group like terms:

$(5 p - 4 p) - 6 = (4 p + 33) - 4 p$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$p - 6 = (4 p + 33) - 4 p$

Group like terms:

$p - 6 = (4 p - 4 p) + 33$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$p - 6 = 33$

Add to both sides:

$(p - 6) + 6 = 33 + 6$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$p = 33 + 6$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$p = 39$

12 additional steps

$(5 p - 6) = - (4 p + 33)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(5 p - 6) = - 4 p - 33$

Add to both sides:

$(5 p - 6) + 4 p = (- 4 p - 33) + 4 p$

Group like terms:

$(5 p + 4 p) - 6 = (- 4 p - 33) + 4 p$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$9 p - 6 = (- 4 p - 33) + 4 p$

Group like terms:

$9 p - 6 = (- 4 p + 4 p) - 33$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$9 p - 6 = - 33$

Add to both sides:

$(9 p - 6) + 6 = - 33 + 6$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$9 p = - 33 + 6$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$9 p = - 27$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(9 p)}{9} = \frac{- 27}{9}$

Simplify the fraction:

$p = \frac{- 27}{9}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

$p = \frac{(- 3 \cdot 9)}{(1 \cdot 9)}$

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$p = - 3$

3. List the solutions

$p = 39, - 3$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | 5 p - 6 |$
$y = | 4 p + 33 |$
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 p

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 p

3. List the solutions

4. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

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