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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = \frac{7}{5}, \frac{11}{7}

x=\frac{7}{5} , \frac{11}{7}

Mixed number form:

x = 1 \frac{2}{5}, 1 \frac{4}{7}

x=1\frac{2}{5} , 1\frac{4}{7}

Decimal form:

x = 1.4, 1.571

x=1.4 , 1.571

See steps

Step-by-step explanation

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

$| x - 2 | + 3 | - 2 x + 3 | = 0$

Add $- 3 | - 2 x + 3 |$ to both sides of the equation:

$| x - 2 | + 3 | - 2 x + 3 | - 3 | - 2 x + 3 | = - 3 | - 2 x + 3 |$

Simplify the arithmetic

$| x - 2 | = - 3 | - 2 x + 3 |$

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
$| x - 2 | = - 3 | - 2 x + 3 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| x - 2 \| = - 3 \| - 2 x + 3 \|$
$x = + y$	$(x - 2) = - 3 (- 2 x + 3)$
$x = - y$	$(x - 2) = - 3 (- (- 2 x + 3))$
$+ x = y$	$(x - 2) = - 3 (- 2 x + 3)$
$- x = y$	$- (x - 2) = - 3 (- 2 x + 3)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| x - 2 \| = - 3 \| - 2 x + 3 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(x - 2) = - 3 (- 2 x + 3)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(x - 2) = - 3 (- (- 2 x + 3))$

3. Solve the two equations for x

14 additional steps

$(x - 2) = - 3 \cdot (- 2 x + 3)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(x - 2) = - 3 \cdot - 2 x - 3 \cdot 3$

Multiply the coefficients:

$(x - 2) = 6 x - 3 \cdot 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$(x - 2) = 6 x - 9$

Subtract from both sides:

$(x - 2) - 6 x = (6 x - 9) - 6 x$

Group like terms:

$(x - 6 x) - 2 = (6 x - 9) - 6 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 5 x - 2 = (6 x - 9) - 6 x$

Group like terms:

$- 5 x - 2 = (6 x - 6 x) - 9$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 5 x - 2 = - 9$

Add to both sides:

$(- 5 x - 2) + 2 = - 9 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 5 x = - 9 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 5 x = - 7$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(- 5 x)}{- 5} = \frac{- 7}{- 5}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$\frac{5 x}{5} = \frac{- 7}{- 5}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 7}{- 5}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$x = \frac{7}{5}$

13 additional steps

$(x - 2) = - 3 \cdot (- (- 2 x + 3))$

Expand the parentheses:

$(x - 2) = - 3 \cdot (2 x - 3)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(x - 2) = - 3 \cdot 2 x - 3 \cdot - 3$

Multiply the coefficients:

$(x - 2) = - 6 x - 3 \cdot - 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$(x - 2) = - 6 x + 9$

Add to both sides:

$(x - 2) + 6 x = (- 6 x + 9) + 6 x$

Group like terms:

$(x + 6 x) - 2 = (- 6 x + 9) + 6 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$7 x - 2 = (- 6 x + 9) + 6 x$

Group like terms:

$7 x - 2 = (- 6 x + 6 x) + 9$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$7 x - 2 = 9$

Add to both sides:

$(7 x - 2) + 2 = 9 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$7 x = 9 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$7 x = 11$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(7 x)}{7} = \frac{11}{7}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{11}{7}$

4. List the solutions

$x = \frac{7}{5}, \frac{11}{7}$
(2 solution(s))

5. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | x - 2 |$
$y = - 3 | - 2 x + 3 |$
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 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