Enter an equation or problem

Camera input is not recognized!

Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = - \frac{1}{4}, \frac{5}{14}

x=-\frac{1}{4} , \frac{5}{14}

Decimal form:

x = - 0.25, 0.357

x=-0.25 , 0.357

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
$| 5 x - 3 | = | 9 x - 2 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 5 x - 3 \| = \| 9 x - 2 \|$
$x = + y$	$(5 x - 3) = (9 x - 2)$
$x = - y$	$(5 x - 3) = - (9 x - 2)$
$+ x = y$	$(5 x - 3) = (9 x - 2)$
$- x = y$	$- (5 x - 3) = (9 x - 2)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 5 x - 3 \| = \| 9 x - 2 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(5 x - 3) = (9 x - 2)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(5 x - 3) = - (9 x - 2)$

2. Solve the two equations for x

11 additional steps

$(5 x - 3) = (9 x - 2)$

Subtract from both sides:

$(5 x - 3) - 9 x = (9 x - 2) - 9 x$

Group like terms:

$(5 x - 9 x) - 3 = (9 x - 2) - 9 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 4 x - 3 = (9 x - 2) - 9 x$

Group like terms:

$- 4 x - 3 = (9 x - 9 x) - 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 4 x - 3 = - 2$

Add to both sides:

$(- 4 x - 3) + 3 = - 2 + 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 4 x = - 2 + 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 4 x = 1$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(- 4 x)}{- 4} = \frac{1}{- 4}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$\frac{4 x}{4} = \frac{1}{- 4}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{1}{- 4}$

Move the negative sign from the denominator to the numerator:

$x = \frac{- 1}{4}$

10 additional steps

$(5 x - 3) = - (9 x - 2)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(5 x - 3) = - 9 x + 2$

Add to both sides:

$(5 x - 3) + 9 x = (- 9 x + 2) + 9 x$

Group like terms:

$(5 x + 9 x) - 3 = (- 9 x + 2) + 9 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$14 x - 3 = (- 9 x + 2) + 9 x$

Group like terms:

$14 x - 3 = (- 9 x + 9 x) + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$14 x - 3 = 2$

Add to both sides:

$(14 x - 3) + 3 = 2 + 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$14 x = 2 + 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$14 x = 5$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(14 x)}{14} = \frac{5}{14}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{5}{14}$

3. List the solutions

$x = - \frac{1}{4}, \frac{5}{14}$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | 5 x - 3 |$
$y = | 9 x - 2 |$
The equation is true where the two lines cross.

How did we do?

Please leave us feedback.

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

Latest Related Drills Solved