Enter an equation or problem

Camera input is not recognized!

Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

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

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

Decimal form:

x = 1, 0.2

x=1 , 0.2

See steps

Step-by-step explanation

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

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

Add $- | - 3 x + 1 |$ to both sides of the equation:

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

Simplify the arithmetic

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

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

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

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:

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

3. Solve the two equations for x

7 additional steps

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

Expand the parentheses:

$2 x = 3 x - 1$

Subtract from both sides:

$(2 x) - 3 x = (3 x - 1) - 3 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- x = (3 x - 1) - 3 x$

Group like terms:

$- x = (3 x - 3 x) - 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- x = - 1$

Multiply both sides by :

$- x \cdot - 1 = - 1 \cdot - 1$

Remove the one(s):

$x = - 1 \cdot - 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$x = 1$

6 additional steps

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

NT_MSLUS_MAINSTEP_RESOLVE_DOUBLE_MINUS:

$2 x = - 3 x + 1$

Add to both sides:

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

Simplify the arithmetic:

$5 x = (- 3 x + 1) + 3 x$

Group like terms:

$5 x = (- 3 x + 3 x) + 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$5 x = 1$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(5 x)}{5} = \frac{1}{5}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{1}{5}$

4. List the solutions

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

5. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = 2 | x |$
$y = - | - 3 x + 1 |$
The equation is true where the two lines cross.

How did we do?

Please leave us feedback.

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