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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: =−3,−1
=-3 , -1
See steps

Other Ways to Solve

Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

1. 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
|−1|=|z+2|
without the absolute value bars:

|x|=|y||−1|=|z+2|
x=+y(−1)=(z+2)
x=−y(−1)=−(z+2)
+x=y(−1)=(z+2)
−x=y−(−1)=(z+2)

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||−1|=|z+2|
x=+y , +x=y(−1)=(z+2)
x=−y , −x=y(−1)=−(z+2)

2. Solve the two equations for

3 additional steps

-1=(z+2)

Swap sides:

(z+2)=-1

Subtract from both sides:

(z+2)-2=-1-2

Simplify the arithmetic:

z=−1−2

Simplify the arithmetic:

z=−3

7 additional steps

-1=-(z+2)

Expand the parentheses:

−1=−z−2

Swap sides:

−z−2=−1

Add to both sides:

(-z-2)+2=-1+2

Simplify the arithmetic:

−z=−1+2

Simplify the arithmetic:

−z=1

Multiply both sides by :

-z·-1=1·-1

Remove the one(s):

z=1·-1

Remove the one(s):

z=−1

3. List the solutions

=−3,−1
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
y=|−1|
y=|z+2|
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.

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