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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = \frac{8}{5}, 2

x=\frac{8}{5} , 2

Mixed number form:

x = 1 \frac{3}{5}, 2

x=1\frac{3}{5} , 2

Decimal form:

x = 1.6, 2

x=1.6 , 2

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
$| 7 x - 12 | = | - 3 x + 4 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 7 x - 12 \| = \| - 3 x + 4 \|$
$x = + y$	$(7 x - 12) = (- 3 x + 4)$
$x = - y$	$(7 x - 12) = - (- 3 x + 4)$
$+ x = y$	$(7 x - 12) = (- 3 x + 4)$
$- x = y$	$- (7 x - 12) = (- 3 x + 4)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 7 x - 12 \| = \| - 3 x + 4 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(7 x - 12) = (- 3 x + 4)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(7 x - 12) = - (- 3 x + 4)$

2. Solve the two equations for x

11 additional steps

$(7 x - 12) = (- 3 x + 4)$

Add to both sides:

$(7 x - 12) + 3 x = (- 3 x + 4) + 3 x$

Group like terms:

$(7 x + 3 x) - 12 = (- 3 x + 4) + 3 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$10 x - 12 = (- 3 x + 4) + 3 x$

Group like terms:

$10 x - 12 = (- 3 x + 3 x) + 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$10 x - 12 = 4$

Add to both sides:

$(10 x - 12) + 12 = 4 + 12$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$10 x = 4 + 12$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$10 x = 16$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(10 x)}{10} = \frac{16}{10}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{16}{10}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

$x = \frac{(8 \cdot 2)}{(5 \cdot 2)}$

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = \frac{8}{5}$

12 additional steps

$(7 x - 12) = - (- 3 x + 4)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(7 x - 12) = 3 x - 4$

Subtract from both sides:

$(7 x - 12) - 3 x = (3 x - 4) - 3 x$

Group like terms:

$(7 x - 3 x) - 12 = (3 x - 4) - 3 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$4 x - 12 = (3 x - 4) - 3 x$

Group like terms:

$4 x - 12 = (3 x - 3 x) - 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$4 x - 12 = - 4$

Add to both sides:

$(4 x - 12) + 12 = - 4 + 12$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$4 x = - 4 + 12$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$4 x = 8$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(4 x)}{4} = \frac{8}{4}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{8}{4}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

$x = \frac{(2 \cdot 4)}{(1 \cdot 4)}$

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = 2$

3. List the solutions

$x = \frac{8}{5}, 2$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | 7 x - 12 |$
$y = | - 3 x + 4 |$
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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