Enter an equation or problem

Camera input is not recognized!

Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

p = 5, - \frac{1}{3}

p=5 , -\frac{1}{3}

Decimal form:

p = 5, - 0.333

p=5 , -0.333

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
$| p + 3 | = | 2 p - 2 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| p + 3 \| = \| 2 p - 2 \|$
$x = + y$	$(p + 3) = (2 p - 2)$
$x = - y$	$(p + 3) = - (2 p - 2)$
$+ x = y$	$(p + 3) = (2 p - 2)$
$- x = y$	$- (p + 3) = (2 p - 2)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| p + 3 \| = \| 2 p - 2 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(p + 3) = (2 p - 2)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(p + 3) = - (2 p - 2)$

2. Solve the two equations for p

10 additional steps

$(p + 3) = (2 p - 2)$

Subtract from both sides:

$(p + 3) - 2 p = (2 p - 2) - 2 p$

Group like terms:

$(p - 2 p) + 3 = (2 p - 2) - 2 p$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- p + 3 = (2 p - 2) - 2 p$

Group like terms:

$- p + 3 = (2 p - 2 p) - 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- p + 3 = - 2$

Subtract from both sides:

$(- p + 3) - 3 = - 2 - 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- p = - 2 - 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- p = - 5$

Multiply both sides by :

$- p \cdot - 1 = - 5 \cdot - 1$

Remove the one(s):

$p = - 5 \cdot - 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$p = 5$

10 additional steps

$(p + 3) = - (2 p - 2)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(p + 3) = - 2 p + 2$

Add to both sides:

$(p + 3) + 2 p = (- 2 p + 2) + 2 p$

Group like terms:

$(p + 2 p) + 3 = (- 2 p + 2) + 2 p$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$3 p + 3 = (- 2 p + 2) + 2 p$

Group like terms:

$3 p + 3 = (- 2 p + 2 p) + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$3 p + 3 = 2$

Subtract from both sides:

$(3 p + 3) - 3 = 2 - 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$3 p = 2 - 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$3 p = - 1$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(3 p)}{3} = \frac{- 1}{3}$

Simplify the fraction:

$p = \frac{- 1}{3}$

3. List the solutions

$p = 5, - \frac{1}{3}$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | p + 3 |$
$y = | 2 p - 2 |$
The equation is true where the two lines cross.

How did we do?

Please leave us feedback.

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 p

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 p

3. List the solutions

4. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

Latest Related Drills Solved