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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = \frac{11}{6}, - \frac{9}{10}

x=\frac{11}{6} , -\frac{9}{10}

Mixed number form:

x = 1 \frac{5}{6}, - \frac{9}{10}

x=1\frac{5}{6} , -\frac{9}{10}

Decimal form:

x = 1.833, - 0.9

x=1.833 , -0.9

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
$| 8 x - 1 | = | 2 x + 10 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 8 x - 1 \| = \| 2 x + 10 \|$
$x = + y$	$(8 x - 1) = (2 x + 10)$
$x = - y$	$(8 x - 1) = - (2 x + 10)$
$+ x = y$	$(8 x - 1) = (2 x + 10)$
$- x = y$	$- (8 x - 1) = (2 x + 10)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 8 x - 1 \| = \| 2 x + 10 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(8 x - 1) = (2 x + 10)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(8 x - 1) = - (2 x + 10)$

2. Solve the two equations for x

9 additional steps

$(8 x - 1) = (2 x + 10)$

Subtract from both sides:

$(8 x - 1) - 2 x = (2 x + 10) - 2 x$

Group like terms:

$(8 x - 2 x) - 1 = (2 x + 10) - 2 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$6 x - 1 = (2 x + 10) - 2 x$

Group like terms:

$6 x - 1 = (2 x - 2 x) + 10$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$6 x - 1 = 10$

Add to both sides:

$(6 x - 1) + 1 = 10 + 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$6 x = 10 + 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$6 x = 11$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(6 x)}{6} = \frac{11}{6}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{11}{6}$

10 additional steps

$(8 x - 1) = - (2 x + 10)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(8 x - 1) = - 2 x - 10$

Add to both sides:

$(8 x - 1) + 2 x = (- 2 x - 10) + 2 x$

Group like terms:

$(8 x + 2 x) - 1 = (- 2 x - 10) + 2 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$10 x - 1 = (- 2 x - 10) + 2 x$

Group like terms:

$10 x - 1 = (- 2 x + 2 x) - 10$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$10 x - 1 = - 10$

Add to both sides:

$(10 x - 1) + 1 = - 10 + 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$10 x = - 10 + 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$10 x = - 9$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(10 x)}{10} = \frac{- 9}{10}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 9}{10}$

3. List the solutions

$x = \frac{11}{6}, - \frac{9}{10}$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | 8 x - 1 |$
$y = | 2 x + 10 |$
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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