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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = 2, - 7

x=2 , -7

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
$| 5 x - 1 | = | - 3 x + 15 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 5 x - 1 \| = \| - 3 x + 15 \|$
$x = + y$	$(5 x - 1) = (- 3 x + 15)$
$x = - y$	$(5 x - 1) = - (- 3 x + 15)$
$+ x = y$	$(5 x - 1) = (- 3 x + 15)$
$- x = y$	$- (5 x - 1) = (- 3 x + 15)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 5 x - 1 \| = \| - 3 x + 15 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(5 x - 1) = (- 3 x + 15)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(5 x - 1) = - (- 3 x + 15)$

2. Solve the two equations for x

11 additional steps

$(5 x - 1) = (- 3 x + 15)$

Add to both sides:

$(5 x - 1) + 3 x = (- 3 x + 15) + 3 x$

Group like terms:

$(5 x + 3 x) - 1 = (- 3 x + 15) + 3 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$8 x - 1 = (- 3 x + 15) + 3 x$

Group like terms:

$8 x - 1 = (- 3 x + 3 x) + 15$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$8 x - 1 = 15$

Add to both sides:

$(8 x - 1) + 1 = 15 + 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$8 x = 15 + 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$8 x = 16$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(8 x)}{8} = \frac{16}{8}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{16}{8}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

$x = \frac{(2 \cdot 8)}{(1 \cdot 8)}$

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = 2$

12 additional steps

$(5 x - 1) = - (- 3 x + 15)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(5 x - 1) = 3 x - 15$

Subtract from both sides:

$(5 x - 1) - 3 x = (3 x - 15) - 3 x$

Group like terms:

$(5 x - 3 x) - 1 = (3 x - 15) - 3 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 x - 1 = (3 x - 15) - 3 x$

Group like terms:

$2 x - 1 = (3 x - 3 x) - 15$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 x - 1 = - 15$

Add to both sides:

$(2 x - 1) + 1 = - 15 + 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 x = - 15 + 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 x = - 14$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(2 x)}{2} = \frac{- 14}{2}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 14}{2}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

$x = \frac{(- 7 \cdot 2)}{(1 \cdot 2)}$

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = - 7$

3. List the solutions

$x = 2, - 7$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | 5 x - 1 |$
$y = | - 3 x + 15 |$
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 without absolute value bars

2. Solve the two equations for x

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 x

3. List the solutions

4. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

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