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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: x=-133,-75
x=-\frac{13}{3} , -\frac{7}{5}
Mixed number form: x=-413,-125
x=-4\frac{1}{3} , -1\frac{2}{5}
Decimal form: x=4.333,1.4
x=-4.333 , -1.4

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
12|x-3|=|2x+5|
without the absolute value bars:

|x|=|y|12|x-3|=|2x+5|
x=+y12(x-3)=(2x+5)
x=-y12(x-3)=-(2x+5)
+x=y12(x-3)=(2x+5)
-x=y12(-(x-3))=(2x+5)

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|x-3|=|2x+5|
x=+y , +x=y12(x-3)=(2x+5)
x=-y , -x=y12(x-3)=-(2x+5)

2. Solve the two equations for x

26 additional steps

12·(x-3)=(2x+5)

Multiply the fraction(s):

(1·(x-3))2=(2x+5)

Break up the fraction:

x2+-32=(2x+5)

Subtract from both sides:

(x2+-32)-2x=(2x+5)-2x

Group like terms:

(x2-2x)+-32=(2x+5)-2x

Group the coefficients:

(12-2)x+-32=(2x+5)-2x

Convert the integer into a fraction:

(12+-42)x+-32=(2x+5)-2x

Combine the fractions:

(1-4)2x+-32=(2x+5)-2x

Combine the numerators:

-32x+-32=(2x+5)-2x

Group like terms:

-32x+-32=(2x-2x)+5

Simplify the arithmetic:

-32x+-32=5

Add to both sides:

(-32x+-32)+32=5+32

Combine the fractions:

-32x+(-3+3)2=5+32

Combine the numerators:

-32x+02=5+32

Reduce the zero numerator:

-32x+0=5+32

Simplify the arithmetic:

-32x=5+32

Convert the integer into a fraction:

-32x=102+32

Combine the fractions:

-32x=(10+3)2

Combine the numerators:

-32x=132

Multiply both sides by inverse fraction :

(-32x)·2-3=(132)·2-3

Move the negative sign from the denominator to the numerator:

-32x·-23=(132)·2-3

Group like terms:

(-32·-23)x=(132)·2-3

Multiply the coefficients:

(-3·-2)(2·3)x=(132)·2-3

Simplify the arithmetic:

1x=(132)·2-3

x=(132)·2-3

Move the negative sign from the denominator to the numerator:

x=132·-23

Multiply the fraction(s):

x=(13·-2)(2·3)

Simplify the arithmetic:

x=-133

24 additional steps

12·(x-3)=-(2x+5)

Multiply the fraction(s):

(1·(x-3))2=-(2x+5)

Break up the fraction:

x2+-32=-(2x+5)

Expand the parentheses:

x2+-32=-2x-5

Add to both sides:

(x2+-32)+2x=(-2x-5)+2x

Group like terms:

(x2+2x)+-32=(-2x-5)+2x

Group the coefficients:

(12+2)x+-32=(-2x-5)+2x

Convert the integer into a fraction:

(12+42)x+-32=(-2x-5)+2x

Combine the fractions:

(1+4)2x+-32=(-2x-5)+2x

Combine the numerators:

52x+-32=(-2x-5)+2x

Group like terms:

52x+-32=(-2x+2x)-5

Simplify the arithmetic:

52x+-32=-5

Add to both sides:

(52x+-32)+32=-5+32

Combine the fractions:

52x+(-3+3)2=-5+32

Combine the numerators:

52x+02=-5+32

Reduce the zero numerator:

52x+0=-5+32

Simplify the arithmetic:

52x=-5+32

Convert the integer into a fraction:

52x=-102+32

Combine the fractions:

52x=(-10+3)2

Combine the numerators:

52x=-72

Multiply both sides by inverse fraction :

(52x)·25=(-72)·25

Group like terms:

(52·25)x=(-72)·25

Multiply the coefficients:

(5·2)(2·5)x=(-72)·25

Simplify the fraction:

x=(-72)·25

Multiply the fraction(s):

x=(-7·2)(2·5)

Simplify the arithmetic:

x=-75

3. List the solutions

x=-133,-75
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
y=12|x-3|
y=|2x+5|
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.