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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

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

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

Mixed number form:

x = 3 \frac{1}{2}, 1 \frac{3}{4}

x=3\frac{1}{2} , 1\frac{3}{4}

Decimal form:

x = 3.5, 1.75

x=3.5 , 1.75

See steps

Step-by-step explanation

1. 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
$| x | = | 3 x - 7 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| x \| = \| 3 x - 7 \|$
$x = + y$	$(x) = (3 x - 7)$
$x = - y$	$(x) = - (3 x - 7)$
$+ x = y$	$(x) = (3 x - 7)$
$- x = y$	$- (x) = (3 x - 7)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| x \| = \| 3 x - 7 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(x) = (3 x - 7)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(x) = - (3 x - 7)$

2. Solve the two equations for x

7 additional steps

$x = (3 x - 7)$

Subtract from both sides:

$x - 3 x = (3 x - 7) - 3 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 2 x = (3 x - 7) - 3 x$

Group like terms:

$- 2 x = (3 x - 3 x) - 7$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 2 x = - 7$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(- 2 x)}{- 2} = \frac{- 7}{- 2}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$\frac{2 x}{2} = \frac{- 7}{- 2}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 7}{- 2}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$x = \frac{7}{2}$

6 additional steps

$x = - (3 x - 7)$

Expand the parentheses:

$x = - 3 x + 7$

Add to both sides:

$x + 3 x = (- 3 x + 7) + 3 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$4 x = (- 3 x + 7) + 3 x$

Group like terms:

$4 x = (- 3 x + 3 x) + 7$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$4 x = 7$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(4 x)}{4} = \frac{7}{4}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{7}{4}$

3. List the solutions

$x = \frac{7}{2}, \frac{7}{4}$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | x |$
$y = | 3 x - 7 |$
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 without absolute value bars

2. Solve the two equations for x

3. List the solutions

4. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

Solution - Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

1. Rewrite the equation without absolute value bars

2. Solve the two equations for x

3. List the solutions

4. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

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