Enter an equation or problem
Camera input is not recognized!

Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: f=3
f=3

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
|f6|=|f|
without the absolute value bars:

|x|=|y||f6|=|f|
x=+y(f6)=(f)
x=y(f6)=(f)
+x=y(f6)=(f)
x=y(f6)=(f)

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||f6|=|f|
x=+y , +x=y(f6)=(f)
x=y , x=y(f6)=(f)

2. Solve the two equations for f

4 additional steps

(f-6)=f

Subtract from both sides:

(f-6)-f=f-f

Group like terms:

(f-f)-6=f-f

Simplify the arithmetic:

6=ff

Simplify the arithmetic:

6=0

The statement is false:

6=0

The equation is false so it has no solution.

10 additional steps

(f-6)=-f

Add to both sides:

(f-6)+f=-f+f

Group like terms:

(f+f)-6=-f+f

Simplify the arithmetic:

2f6=f+f

Simplify the arithmetic:

2f6=0

Add to both sides:

(2f-6)+6=0+6

Simplify the arithmetic:

2f=0+6

Simplify the arithmetic:

2f=6

Divide both sides by :

(2f)2=62

Simplify the fraction:

f=62

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

f=(3·2)(1·2)

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

f=3

3. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
y=|f6|
y=|f|
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.