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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

p = 0, 0

p=0 , 0

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
$| 5 p | = | 4 p |$
without the absolute value bars:

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

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:

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

2. Solve the two equations for p

2 additional steps

$5 p = 4 p$

Subtract from both sides:

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

Simplify the arithmetic:

$p = (4 p) - 4 p$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$p = 0$

11 additional steps

$5 p = - 4 p$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(5 p)}{5} = \frac{(- 4 p)}{5}$

Simplify the fraction:

$p = \frac{(- 4 p)}{5}$

Add to both sides:

$p + \frac{4}{5} \cdot p = (\frac{(- 4 p)}{5}) + \frac{4}{5} p$

Group the coefficients:

$(1 + \frac{4}{5}) p = (\frac{(- 4 p)}{5}) + \frac{4}{5} p$

Convert the integer into a fraction:

$(\frac{5}{5} + \frac{4}{5}) p = (\frac{(- 4 p)}{5}) + \frac{4}{5} p$

Combine the fractions:

$\frac{(5 + 4)}{5} \cdot p = (\frac{(- 4 p)}{5}) + \frac{4}{5} p$

Combine the numerators:

$\frac{9}{5} \cdot p = (\frac{(- 4 p)}{5}) + \frac{4}{5} p$

Combine the fractions:

$\frac{9}{5} \cdot p = \frac{(- 4 + 4)}{5} p$

Combine the numerators:

$\frac{9}{5} \cdot p = \frac{0}{5} p$

Reduce the zero numerator:

$\frac{9}{5} p = 0 p$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$\frac{9}{5} p = 0$

Divide both sides by the coefficient:

$p = 0$

3. List the solutions

$p = 0, 0$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

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