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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: v=5,3
v=-5 , 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
|v7|=|2v2|
without the absolute value bars:

|x|=|y||v7|=|2v2|
x=+y(v7)=(2v2)
x=y(v7)=(2v2)
+x=y(v7)=(2v2)
x=y(v7)=(2v2)

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||v7|=|2v2|
x=+y , +x=y(v7)=(2v2)
x=y , x=y(v7)=(2v2)

2. Solve the two equations for v

10 additional steps

(v-7)=(2v-2)

Subtract from both sides:

(v-7)-2v=(2v-2)-2v

Group like terms:

(v-2v)-7=(2v-2)-2v

Simplify the arithmetic:

-v-7=(2v-2)-2v

Group like terms:

-v-7=(2v-2v)-2

Simplify the arithmetic:

v7=2

Add to both sides:

(-v-7)+7=-2+7

Simplify the arithmetic:

v=2+7

Simplify the arithmetic:

v=5

Multiply both sides by :

-v·-1=5·-1

Remove the one(s):

v=5·-1

Simplify the arithmetic:

v=5

12 additional steps

(v-7)=-(2v-2)

Expand the parentheses:

(v-7)=-2v+2

Add to both sides:

(v-7)+2v=(-2v+2)+2v

Group like terms:

(v+2v)-7=(-2v+2)+2v

Simplify the arithmetic:

3v-7=(-2v+2)+2v

Group like terms:

3v-7=(-2v+2v)+2

Simplify the arithmetic:

3v7=2

Add to both sides:

(3v-7)+7=2+7

Simplify the arithmetic:

3v=2+7

Simplify the arithmetic:

3v=9

Divide both sides by :

(3v)3=93

Simplify the fraction:

v=93

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

v=(3·3)(1·3)

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

v=3

3. List the solutions

v=5,3
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
y=|v7|
y=|2v2|
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.