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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

y = \frac{9}{2}

y=\frac{9}{2}

Mixed number form:

y = 4 \frac{1}{2}

y=4\frac{1}{2}

Decimal form:

y = 4.5

y=4.5

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
$| y - 5 | = | y - 4 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| y - 5 \| = \| y - 4 \|$
$x = + y$	$(y - 5) = (y - 4)$
$x = - y$	$(y - 5) = - (y - 4)$
$+ x = y$	$(y - 5) = (y - 4)$
$- x = y$	$- (y - 5) = (y - 4)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| y - 5 \| = \| y - 4 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(y - 5) = (y - 4)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(y - 5) = - (y - 4)$

2. Solve the two equations for y

5 additional steps

$(y - 5) = (y - 4)$

Subtract from both sides:

$(y - 5) - y = (y - 4) - y$

Group like terms:

$(y - y) - 5 = (y - 4) - y$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 5 = (y - 4) - y$

Group like terms:

$- 5 = (y - y) - 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 5 = - 4$

The statement is false:

$- 5 = - 4$

The equation is false so it has no solution.

10 additional steps

$(y - 5) = - (y - 4)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(y - 5) = - y + 4$

Add to both sides:

$(y - 5) + y = (- y + 4) + y$

Group like terms:

$(y + y) - 5 = (- y + 4) + y$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 y - 5 = (- y + 4) + y$

Group like terms:

$2 y - 5 = (- y + y) + 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 y - 5 = 4$

Add to both sides:

$(2 y - 5) + 5 = 4 + 5$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 y = 4 + 5$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 y = 9$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(2 y)}{2} = \frac{9}{2}$

Simplify the fraction:

$y = \frac{9}{2}$

3. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | y - 5 |$
$y = | y - 4 |$
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 y

3. 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 y

3. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

Latest Related Drills Solved