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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

t = 1

t=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
$| t + 1 | = | t - 3 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| t + 1 \| = \| t - 3 \|$
$x = + y$	$(t + 1) = (t - 3)$
$x = - y$	$(t + 1) = - (t - 3)$
$+ x = y$	$(t + 1) = (t - 3)$
$- x = y$	$- (t + 1) = (t - 3)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| t + 1 \| = \| t - 3 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(t + 1) = (t - 3)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(t + 1) = - (t - 3)$

2. Solve the two equations for t

5 additional steps

$(t + 1) = (t - 3)$

Subtract from both sides:

$(t + 1) - t = (t - 3) - t$

Group like terms:

$(t - t) + 1 = (t - 3) - t$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$1 = (t - 3) - t$

Group like terms:

$1 = (t - t) - 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$1 = - 3$

The statement is false:

$1 = - 3$

The equation is false so it has no solution.

11 additional steps

$(t + 1) = - (t - 3)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(t + 1) = - t + 3$

Add to both sides:

$(t + 1) + t = (- t + 3) + t$

Group like terms:

$(t + t) + 1 = (- t + 3) + t$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 t + 1 = (- t + 3) + t$

Group like terms:

$2 t + 1 = (- t + t) + 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 t + 1 = 3$

Subtract from both sides:

$(2 t + 1) - 1 = 3 - 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 t = 3 - 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 t = 2$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(2 t)}{2} = \frac{2}{2}$

Simplify the fraction:

$t = \frac{2}{2}$

Simplify the fraction:

$t = 1$

3. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | t + 1 |$
$y = | t - 3 |$
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 t

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 t

3. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

Latest Related Drills Solved