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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

p = - 1

p=-1

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
$| p + 4 | = | p - 2 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| p + 4 \| = \| p - 2 \|$
$x = + y$	$(p + 4) = (p - 2)$
$x = - y$	$(p + 4) = - (p - 2)$
$+ x = y$	$(p + 4) = (p - 2)$
$- x = y$	$- (p + 4) = (p - 2)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| p + 4 \| = \| p - 2 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(p + 4) = (p - 2)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(p + 4) = - (p - 2)$

2. Solve the two equations for p

5 additional steps

$(p + 4) = (p - 2)$

Subtract from both sides:

$(p + 4) - p = (p - 2) - p$

Group like terms:

$(p - p) + 4 = (p - 2) - p$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$4 = (p - 2) - p$

Group like terms:

$4 = (p - p) - 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$4 = - 2$

The statement is false:

$4 = - 2$

The equation is false so it has no solution.

11 additional steps

$(p + 4) = - (p - 2)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(p + 4) = - p + 2$

Add to both sides:

$(p + 4) + p = (- p + 2) + p$

Group like terms:

$(p + p) + 4 = (- p + 2) + p$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 p + 4 = (- p + 2) + p$

Group like terms:

$2 p + 4 = (- p + p) + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 p + 4 = 2$

Subtract from both sides:

$(2 p + 4) - 4 = 2 - 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 p = 2 - 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 p = - 2$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(2 p)}{2} = \frac{- 2}{2}$

Simplify the fraction:

$p = \frac{- 2}{2}$

Simplify the fraction:

$p = - 1$

3. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | p + 4 |$
$y = | p - 2 |$
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 p

3. 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. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

Latest Related Drills Solved