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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: x=-2,23
x=-2 , \frac{2}{3}
Decimal form: x=2,0.667
x=-2 , 0.667

Other Ways to Solve

Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

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

2|x||x2|=0

Add |x2| to both sides of the equation:

2|x||x2|+|x2|=|x2|

Simplify the arithmetic

2|x|=|x2|

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
2|x|=|x2|
without the absolute value bars:

|x|=|y|2|x|=|x2|
x=+y2(x)=(x2)
x=y2(x)=((x2))
+x=y2(x)=(x2)
x=y2((x))=(x2)

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|=|x2|
x=+y , +x=y2(x)=(x2)
x=y , x=y2(x)=((x2))

3. Solve the two equations for x

3 additional steps

2x=(x-2)

Subtract from both sides:

(2x)-x=(x-2)-x

Simplify the arithmetic:

x=(x-2)-x

Group like terms:

x=(x-x)-2

Simplify the arithmetic:

x=2

6 additional steps

2x=-(x-2)

Expand the parentheses:

2x=x+2

Add to both sides:

(2x)+x=(-x+2)+x

Simplify the arithmetic:

3x=(-x+2)+x

Group like terms:

3x=(-x+x)+2

Simplify the arithmetic:

3x=2

Divide both sides by :

(3x)3=23

Simplify the fraction:

x=23

4. List the solutions

x=-2,23
(2 solution(s))

5. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
y=2|x|
y=|x2|
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.