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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = \frac{13}{5}, 3

x=\frac{13}{5} , 3

Mixed number form:

x = 2 \frac{3}{5}, 3

x=2\frac{3}{5} , 3

Decimal form:

x = 2.6, 3

x=2.6 , 3

See steps

Step-by-step explanation

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

$| x - 2 | + | 4 x - 11 | = 0$

Add $- | 4 x - 11 |$ to both sides of the equation:

$| x - 2 | + | 4 x - 11 | - | 4 x - 11 | = - | 4 x - 11 |$

Simplify the arithmetic

$| x - 2 | = - | 4 x - 11 |$

2. 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
$| x - 2 | = - | 4 x - 11 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| x - 2 \| = - \| 4 x - 11 \|$
$x = + y$	$(x - 2) = - (4 x - 11)$
$x = - y$	$(x - 2) = - - (4 x - 11)$
$+ x = y$	$(x - 2) = - (4 x - 11)$
$- x = y$	$- (x - 2) = - (4 x - 11)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| x - 2 \| = - \| 4 x - 11 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(x - 2) = - (4 x - 11)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(x - 2) = - - (4 x - 11)$

3. Solve the two equations for x

10 additional steps

$(x - 2) = - (4 x - 11)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(x - 2) = - 4 x + 11$

Add to both sides:

$(x - 2) + 4 x = (- 4 x + 11) + 4 x$

Group like terms:

$(x + 4 x) - 2 = (- 4 x + 11) + 4 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$5 x - 2 = (- 4 x + 11) + 4 x$

Group like terms:

$5 x - 2 = (- 4 x + 4 x) + 11$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$5 x - 2 = 11$

Add to both sides:

$(5 x - 2) + 2 = 11 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$5 x = 11 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$5 x = 13$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(5 x)}{5} = \frac{13}{5}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{13}{5}$

14 additional steps

$(x - 2) = - (- (4 x - 11))$

NT_MSLUS_MAINSTEP_RESOLVE_DOUBLE_MINUS:

$(x - 2) = 4 x - 11$

Subtract from both sides:

$(x - 2) - 4 x = (4 x - 11) - 4 x$

Group like terms:

$(x - 4 x) - 2 = (4 x - 11) - 4 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 3 x - 2 = (4 x - 11) - 4 x$

Group like terms:

$- 3 x - 2 = (4 x - 4 x) - 11$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 3 x - 2 = - 11$

Add to both sides:

$(- 3 x - 2) + 2 = - 11 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 3 x = - 11 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 3 x = - 9$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(- 3 x)}{- 3} = \frac{- 9}{- 3}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$\frac{3 x}{3} = \frac{- 9}{- 3}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 9}{- 3}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$x = \frac{9}{3}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

$x = \frac{(3 \cdot 3)}{(1 \cdot 3)}$

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = 3$

4. List the solutions

$x = \frac{13}{5}, 3$
(2 solution(s))

5. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | x - 2 |$
$y = - | 4 x - 11 |$
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 with one absolute value terms on each side

2. Rewrite the equation without absolute value bars

3. Solve the two equations for x

4. List the solutions

5. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

Solution - Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

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

2. Rewrite the equation without absolute value bars

3. Solve the two equations for x

4. List the solutions

5. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

Latest Related Drills Solved