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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: p=1
p=1
See steps

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
|p|=|p−2|
without the absolute value bars:

|x|=|y||p|=|p−2|
x=+y(p)=(p−2)
x=−y(p)=−(p−2)
+x=y(p)=(p−2)
−x=y−(p)=(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|=|p−2|
x=+y , +x=y(p)=(p−2)
x=−y , −x=y(p)=−(p−2)

2. Solve the two equations for p

4 additional steps

p=(p-2)

Subtract from both sides:

p-p=(p-2)-p

Simplify the arithmetic:

0=(p-2)-p

Group like terms:

0=(p-p)-2

Simplify the arithmetic:

0=−2

The statement is false:

0=−2

The equation is false so it has no solution.

7 additional steps

p=-(p-2)

Expand the parentheses:

p=−p+2

Add to both sides:

p+p=(-p+2)+p

Simplify the arithmetic:

2p=(-p+2)+p

Group like terms:

2p=(-p+p)+2

Simplify the arithmetic:

2p=2

Divide both sides by :

(2p)2=22

Simplify the fraction:

p=22

Simplify the fraction:

p=1

3. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
y=|p|
y=|p−2|
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.

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