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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: h=2,0
h=-2 , 0

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
0.4|10h5|=|6h+2|
without the absolute value bars:

|x|=|y|0.4|10h5|=|6h+2|
x=+y0.4(10h5)=(6h+2)
x=y0.4(10h5)=(6h+2)
+x=y0.4(10h5)=(6h+2)
x=y0.4((10h5))=(6h+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|0.4|10h5|=|6h+2|
x=+y , +x=y0.4(10h5)=(6h+2)
x=y , x=y0.4(10h5)=(6h+2)

2. Solve the two equations for h

16 additional steps

0.4·(10h-5)=(6h+2)

Expand the parentheses:

0.4·10h+0.4·-5=(6h+2)

Multiply the coefficients:

4h+0.4·-5=(6h+2)

Simplify the arithmetic:

4h-2=(6h+2)

Subtract from both sides:

(4h-2)-6h=(6h+2)-6h

Group like terms:

(4h-6h)-2=(6h+2)-6h

Simplify the arithmetic:

-2h-2=(6h+2)-6h

Group like terms:

-2h-2=(6h-6h)+2

Simplify the arithmetic:

-2h-2=2

Add to both sides:

(-2h-2)+2=2+2

Simplify the arithmetic:

-2h=2+2

Simplify the arithmetic:

-2h=4

Divide both sides by :

(-2h)-2=4-2

Cancel out the negatives:

2h2=4-2

Simplify the fraction:

h=4-2

Move the negative sign from the denominator to the numerator:

h=-42

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

h=(-2·2)(1·2)

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

h=-2

12 additional steps

0.4·(10h-5)=-(6h+2)

Expand the parentheses:

0.4·10h+0.4·-5=-(6h+2)

Multiply the coefficients:

4h+0.4·-5=-(6h+2)

Simplify the arithmetic:

4h-2=-(6h+2)

Expand the parentheses:

4h-2=-6h-2

Add to both sides:

(4h-2)+6h=(-6h-2)+6h

Group like terms:

(4h+6h)-2=(-6h-2)+6h

Simplify the arithmetic:

10h-2=(-6h-2)+6h

Group like terms:

10h-2=(-6h+6h)-2

Simplify the arithmetic:

10h-2=-2

Add to both sides:

(10h-2)+2=-2+2

Simplify the arithmetic:

10h=-2+2

Simplify the arithmetic:

10h=0

Divide both sides by the coefficient:

h=0

3. List the solutions

h=2,0
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
y=0.4|10h5|
y=|6h+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.