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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: x=76
x=\frac{7}{6}
Mixed number form: x=116
x=1\frac{1}{6}
Decimal form: x=1.167
x=1.167

Other Ways to Solve

Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

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

|x|-|x-73|=0

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

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

Simplify the arithmetic

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

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

3. Solve the two equations for x

4 additional steps

x=(x+-73)

Subtract from both sides:

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

Simplify the arithmetic:

0=(x+-73)-x

Group like terms:

0=(x-x)+-73

Simplify the arithmetic:

0=-73

The statement is false:

0=-73

The equation is false so it has no solution.

8 additional steps

x=-(x+-73)

Expand the parentheses:

x=-x+73

Add to both sides:

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

Simplify the arithmetic:

2x=(-x+73)+x

Group like terms:

2x=(-x+x)+73

Simplify the arithmetic:

2x=73

Divide both sides by :

(2x)2=(73)2

Simplify the fraction:

x=(73)2

Simplify the arithmetic:

x=7(3·2)

x=76

4. Graph

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