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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = - \frac{3}{2}, \frac{11}{8}

x=-\frac{3}{2} , \frac{11}{8}

Mixed number form:

x = - 1 \frac{1}{2}, 1 \frac{3}{8}

x=-1\frac{1}{2} , 1\frac{3}{8}

Decimal form:

x = - 1.5, 1.375

x=-1.5 , 1.375

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
$| - 3 x + 7 | = | - 5 x + 4 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| - 3 x + 7 \| = \| - 5 x + 4 \|$
$x = + y$	$(- 3 x + 7) = (- 5 x + 4)$
$x = - y$	$(- 3 x + 7) = - (- 5 x + 4)$
$+ x = y$	$(- 3 x + 7) = (- 5 x + 4)$
$- x = y$	$- (- 3 x + 7) = (- 5 x + 4)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| - 3 x + 7 \| = \| - 5 x + 4 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(- 3 x + 7) = (- 5 x + 4)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(- 3 x + 7) = - (- 5 x + 4)$

2. Solve the two equations for x

9 additional steps

$(- 3 x + 7) = (- 5 x + 4)$

Add to both sides:

$(- 3 x + 7) + 5 x = (- 5 x + 4) + 5 x$

Group like terms:

$(- 3 x + 5 x) + 7 = (- 5 x + 4) + 5 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 x + 7 = (- 5 x + 4) + 5 x$

Group like terms:

$2 x + 7 = (- 5 x + 5 x) + 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 x + 7 = 4$

Subtract from both sides:

$(2 x + 7) - 7 = 4 - 7$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 x = 4 - 7$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 x = - 3$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(2 x)}{2} = \frac{- 3}{2}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 3}{2}$

12 additional steps

$(- 3 x + 7) = - (- 5 x + 4)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(- 3 x + 7) = 5 x - 4$

Subtract from both sides:

$(- 3 x + 7) - 5 x = (5 x - 4) - 5 x$

Group like terms:

$(- 3 x - 5 x) + 7 = (5 x - 4) - 5 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 8 x + 7 = (5 x - 4) - 5 x$

Group like terms:

$- 8 x + 7 = (5 x - 5 x) - 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 8 x + 7 = - 4$

Subtract from both sides:

$(- 8 x + 7) - 7 = - 4 - 7$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 8 x = - 4 - 7$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 8 x = - 11$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(- 8 x)}{- 8} = \frac{- 11}{- 8}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$\frac{8 x}{8} = \frac{- 11}{- 8}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 11}{- 8}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$x = \frac{11}{8}$

3. List the solutions

$x = - \frac{3}{2}, \frac{11}{8}$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | - 3 x + 7 |$
$y = | - 5 x + 4 |$
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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