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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: y=0,0
y=0 , 0

Other Ways to Solve

Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

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

12|12y|-|-8y|=0

Add |8y| to both sides of the equation:

12|12y|-|-8y|+|-8y|=|-8y|

Simplify the arithmetic

12|12y|=|-8y|

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
12|12y|=|-8y|
without the absolute value bars:

|x|=|y|12|12y|=|-8y|
x=+y12(12y)=(-8y)
x=-y12(12y)=(-(-8y))
+x=y12(12y)=(-8y)
-x=y12(-(12y))=(-8y)

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|12|12y|=|-8y|
x=+y , +x=y12(12y)=(-8y)
x=-y , -x=y12(12y)=(-(-8y))

3. Solve the two equations for y

5 additional steps

12·12y=(-8y)

Multiply the coefficients:

(1·12)2y=(-8y)

Simplify the fraction:

6y=(-8y)

Add to both sides:

(6y)+8y=(-8y)+8y

Simplify the arithmetic:

14y=(-8y)+8y

Simplify the arithmetic:

14y=0

Divide both sides by the coefficient:

y=0

6 additional steps

12·12y=(-(-8y))

Multiply the coefficients:

(1·12)2y=(-(-8y))

Simplify the fraction:

6y=(-(-8y))

Resolve the double minus:

6y=8y

Subtract from both sides:

(6y)-8y=(8y)-8y

Simplify the arithmetic:

-2y=(8y)-8y

Simplify the arithmetic:

2y=0

Divide both sides by the coefficient:

y=0

4. List the solutions

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

5. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
y=12|12y|
y=|-8y|
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.