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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: x=1315
x=\frac{13}{15}
Mixed number form:
Decimal form: x=0.867
x=0.867

Other Ways to Solve

Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

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

|x+35|-|x-73|=0

Add |x-73| to both sides of the equation:

|x+35|-|x-73|+|x-73|=|x-73|

Simplify the arithmetic

|x+35|=|x-73|

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+35|=|x-73|
without the absolute value bars:

|x|=|y||x+35|=|x-73|
x=+y(x+35)=(x-73)
x=-y(x+35)=(-(x-73))
+x=y(x+35)=(x-73)
-x=y-(x+35)=(x-73)

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+35|=|x-73|
x=+y , +x=y(x+35)=(x-73)
x=-y , -x=y(x+35)=(-(x-73))

3. Solve the two equations for x

5 additional steps

(x+35)=(x+-73)

Subtract from both sides:

(x+35)-x=(x+-73)-x

Group like terms:

(x-x)+35=(x+-73)-x

Simplify the arithmetic:

35=(x+-73)-x

Group like terms:

35=(x-x)+-73

Simplify the arithmetic:

35=-73

The statement is false:

35=-73

The equation is false so it has no solution.

19 additional steps

(x+35)=-(x+-73)

Expand the parentheses:

(x+35)=-x+73

Add to both sides:

(x+35)+x=(-x+73)+x

Group like terms:

(x+x)+35=(-x+73)+x

Simplify the arithmetic:

2x+35=(-x+73)+x

Group like terms:

2x+35=(-x+x)+73

Simplify the arithmetic:

2x+35=73

Subtract from both sides:

(2x+35)-35=(73)-35

Combine the fractions:

2x+(3-3)5=(73)-35

Combine the numerators:

2x+05=(73)-35

Reduce the zero numerator:

2x+0=(73)-35

Simplify the arithmetic:

2x=(73)-35

Find the lowest common denominator:

2x=(7·5)(3·5)+(-3·3)(5·3)

Multiply the denominators:

2x=(7·5)15+(-3·3)15

Multiply the numerators:

2x=3515+-915

Combine the fractions:

2x=(35-9)15

Combine the numerators:

2x=2615

Divide both sides by :

(2x)2=(2615)2

Simplify the fraction:

x=(2615)2

Simplify the arithmetic:

x=26(15·2)

x=1315

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
y=|x+35|
y=|x-73|
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.