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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = \frac{1}{3}, - 5

x=\frac{1}{3} , -5

Decimal form:

x = 0.333, - 5

x=0.333 , -5

See steps

Step-by-step explanation

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

$2 | x + 1 | + | x - 3 | = 0$

Add $- | x - 3 |$ to both sides of the equation:

$2 | x + 1 | + | x - 3 | - | x - 3 | = - | x - 3 |$

Simplify the arithmetic

$2 | x + 1 | = - | x - 3 |$

2. 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
$2 | x + 1 | = - | x - 3 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$2 \| x + 1 \| = - \| x - 3 \|$
$x = + y$	$2 (x + 1) = - (x - 3)$
$x = - y$	$2 (x + 1) = - - (x - 3)$
$+ x = y$	$2 (x + 1) = - (x - 3)$
$- x = y$	$2 (- (x + 1)) = - (x - 3)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$2 \| x + 1 \| = - \| x - 3 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$2 (x + 1) = - (x - 3)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$2 (x + 1) = - - (x - 3)$

3. Solve the two equations for x

12 additional steps

$2 \cdot (x + 1) = - (x - 3)$

Expand the parentheses:

$2 x + 2 \cdot 1 = - (x - 3)$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 x + 2 = - (x - 3)$

Expand the parentheses:

$2 x + 2 = - x + 3$

Add to both sides:

$(2 x + 2) + x = (- x + 3) + x$

Group like terms:

$(2 x + x) + 2 = (- x + 3) + x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$3 x + 2 = (- x + 3) + x$

Group like terms:

$3 x + 2 = (- x + x) + 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$3 x + 2 = 3$

Subtract from both sides:

$(3 x + 2) - 2 = 3 - 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$3 x = 3 - 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$3 x = 1$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(3 x)}{3} = \frac{1}{3}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{1}{3}$

10 additional steps

$2 \cdot (x + 1) = - (- (x - 3))$

Expand the parentheses:

$2 x + 2 \cdot 1 = - (- (x - 3))$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$2 x + 2 = - (- (x - 3))$

Resolve the double minus:

$2 x + 2 = x - 3$

Subtract from both sides:

$(2 x + 2) - x = (x - 3) - x$

Group like terms:

$(2 x - x) + 2 = (x - 3) - x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$x + 2 = (x - 3) - x$

Group like terms:

$x + 2 = (x - x) - 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$x + 2 = - 3$

Subtract from both sides:

$(x + 2) - 2 = - 3 - 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$x = - 3 - 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$x = - 5$

4. List the solutions

$x = \frac{1}{3}, - 5$
(2 solution(s))

5. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = 2 | x + 1 |$
$y = - | x - 3 |$
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 with one absolute value terms on each side

2. Rewrite the equation without absolute value bars

3. Solve the two equations for x

4. List the solutions

5. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

Solution - Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

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

2. Rewrite the equation without absolute value bars

3. Solve the two equations for x

4. List the solutions

5. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

Latest Related Drills Solved