Enter an equation or problem
Camera input is not recognized!

Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: x=-12
x=-\frac{1}{2}
Decimal form: x=0.5
x=-0.5

Other Ways to Solve

Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

1. Rewrite the equation with one absolute value terms on each side

|x+1|+|x|=0

Add |x| to both sides of the equation:

|x+1|+|x||x|=|x|

Simplify the arithmetic

|x+1|=|x|

2. 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
|x+1|=|x|
without the absolute value bars:

|x|=|y||x+1|=|x|
x=+y(x+1)=(x)
x=y(x+1)=(x)
+x=y(x+1)=(x)
x=y(x+1)=(x)

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||x+1|=|x|
x=+y , +x=y(x+1)=(x)
x=y , x=y(x+1)=(x)

3. Solve the two equations for x

8 additional steps

(x+1)=-x

Add to both sides:

(x+1)+x=-x+x

Group like terms:

(x+x)+1=-x+x

Simplify the arithmetic:

2x+1=x+x

Simplify the arithmetic:

2x+1=0

Subtract from both sides:

(2x+1)-1=0-1

Simplify the arithmetic:

2x=01

Simplify the arithmetic:

2x=1

Divide both sides by :

(2x)2=-12

Simplify the fraction:

x=-12

4 additional steps

(x+1)=x

Subtract from both sides:

(x+1)-x=x-x

Group like terms:

(x-x)+1=x-x

Simplify the arithmetic:

1=xx

Simplify the arithmetic:

1=0

The statement is false:

1=0

The equation is false so it has no solution.

4. List the solutions

x=-12
(1 solution(s))

5. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
y=|x+1|
y=|x|
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.