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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: x=34,34
x=\frac{3}{4} , \frac{3}{4}
Decimal form: x=0.75,0.75
x=0.75 , 0.75

Other Ways to Solve

Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

1. Rewrite the equation with one absolute value terms on each side

|8x6|+|4x+3|=0

Add |4x+3| to both sides of the equation:

|8x6|+|4x+3||4x+3|=|4x+3|

Simplify the arithmetic

|8x6|=|4x+3|

2. 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
|8x6|=|4x+3|
without the absolute value bars:

|x|=|y||8x6|=|4x+3|
x=+y(8x6)=(4x+3)
x=y(8x6)=(4x+3)
+x=y(8x6)=(4x+3)
x=y(8x6)=(4x+3)

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||8x6|=|4x+3|
x=+y , +x=y(8x6)=(4x+3)
x=y , x=y(8x6)=(4x+3)

3. Solve the two equations for x

10 additional steps

(8x-6)=-(-4x+3)

Expand the parentheses:

(8x-6)=4x-3

Subtract from both sides:

(8x-6)-4x=(4x-3)-4x

Group like terms:

(8x-4x)-6=(4x-3)-4x

Simplify the arithmetic:

4x-6=(4x-3)-4x

Group like terms:

4x-6=(4x-4x)-3

Simplify the arithmetic:

4x6=3

Add to both sides:

(4x-6)+6=-3+6

Simplify the arithmetic:

4x=3+6

Simplify the arithmetic:

4x=3

Divide both sides by :

(4x)4=34

Simplify the fraction:

x=34

12 additional steps

(8x-6)=-(-(-4x+3))

NT_MSLUS_MAINSTEP_RESOLVE_DOUBLE_MINUS:

(8x-6)=-4x+3

Add to both sides:

(8x-6)+4x=(-4x+3)+4x

Group like terms:

(8x+4x)-6=(-4x+3)+4x

Simplify the arithmetic:

12x-6=(-4x+3)+4x

Group like terms:

12x-6=(-4x+4x)+3

Simplify the arithmetic:

12x6=3

Add to both sides:

(12x-6)+6=3+6

Simplify the arithmetic:

12x=3+6

Simplify the arithmetic:

12x=9

Divide both sides by :

(12x)12=912

Simplify the fraction:

x=912

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

x=(3·3)(4·3)

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

x=34

4. List the solutions

x=34,34
(2 solution(s))

5. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
y=|8x6|
y=|4x+3|
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.