Enter an equation or problem
Camera input is not recognized!

Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: k=-203,-2019
k=-\frac{20}{3} , -\frac{20}{19}
Mixed number form: k=-623,-1119
k=-6\frac{2}{3} , -1\frac{1}{19}
Decimal form: k=6.667,1.053
k=-6.667 , -1.053

Other Ways to Solve

Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

1. Rewrite the equation without absolute value bars

Use the rules:
|x|=|y|x=±y and |x|=|y|±x=y
to write all four options of the equation
|75k+4|=|12k-2|
without the absolute value bars:

|x|=|y||75k+4|=|12k-2|
x=+y(75k+4)=(12k-2)
x=-y(75k+4)=-(12k-2)
+x=y(75k+4)=(12k-2)
-x=y-(75k+4)=(12k-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||75k+4|=|12k-2|
x=+y , +x=y(75k+4)=(12k-2)
x=-y , -x=y(75k+4)=-(12k-2)

2. Solve the two equations for k

21 additional steps

(75·k+4)=(12k-2)

Subtract from both sides:

(75k+4)-12·k=(12k-2)-12k

Group like terms:

(75·k+-12·k)+4=(12·k-2)-12k

Group the coefficients:

(75+-12)k+4=(12·k-2)-12k

Find the lowest common denominator:

((7·2)(5·2)+(-1·5)(2·5))k+4=(12·k-2)-12k

Multiply the denominators:

((7·2)10+(-1·5)10)k+4=(12·k-2)-12k

Multiply the numerators:

(1410+-510)k+4=(12·k-2)-12k

Combine the fractions:

(14-5)10·k+4=(12·k-2)-12k

Combine the numerators:

910·k+4=(12·k-2)-12k

Group like terms:

910·k+4=(12·k+-12k)-2

Combine the fractions:

910·k+4=(1-1)2k-2

Combine the numerators:

910·k+4=02k-2

Reduce the zero numerator:

910k+4=0k-2

Simplify the arithmetic:

910k+4=-2

Subtract from both sides:

(910k+4)-4=-2-4

Simplify the arithmetic:

910k=-2-4

Simplify the arithmetic:

910k=-6

Multiply both sides by inverse fraction :

(910k)·109=-6·109

Group like terms:

(910·109)k=-6·109

Multiply the coefficients:

(9·10)(10·9)k=-6·109

Simplify the fraction:

k=-6·109

Multiply the fraction(s):

k=(-6·10)9

Simplify the arithmetic:

k=-203

22 additional steps

(75k+4)=-(12k-2)

Expand the parentheses:

(75·k+4)=-12k+2

Add to both sides:

(75k+4)+12·k=(-12k+2)+12k

Group like terms:

(75·k+12·k)+4=(-12·k+2)+12k

Group the coefficients:

(75+12)k+4=(-12·k+2)+12k

Find the lowest common denominator:

((7·2)(5·2)+(1·5)(2·5))k+4=(-12·k+2)+12k

Multiply the denominators:

((7·2)10+(1·5)10)k+4=(-12·k+2)+12k

Multiply the numerators:

(1410+510)k+4=(-12·k+2)+12k

Combine the fractions:

(14+5)10·k+4=(-12·k+2)+12k

Combine the numerators:

1910·k+4=(-12·k+2)+12k

Group like terms:

1910·k+4=(-12·k+12k)+2

Combine the fractions:

1910·k+4=(-1+1)2k+2

Combine the numerators:

1910·k+4=02k+2

Reduce the zero numerator:

1910k+4=0k+2

Simplify the arithmetic:

1910k+4=2

Subtract from both sides:

(1910k+4)-4=2-4

Simplify the arithmetic:

1910k=2-4

Simplify the arithmetic:

1910k=-2

Multiply both sides by inverse fraction :

(1910k)·1019=-2·1019

Group like terms:

(1910·1019)k=-2·1019

Multiply the coefficients:

(19·10)(10·19)k=-2·1019

Simplify the fraction:

k=-2·1019

Multiply the fraction(s):

k=(-2·10)19

Simplify the arithmetic:

k=-2019

3. List the solutions

k=-203,-2019
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
y=|75k+4|
y=|12k-2|
The equation is true where the two lines cross.

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.