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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: a=0,0
a=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

3|a|6|a|=0

Add 6|a| to both sides of the equation:

3|a|6|a|+6|a|=6|a|

Simplify the arithmetic

3|a|=6|a|

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
3|a|=6|a|
without the absolute value bars:

|x|=|y|3|a|=6|a|
x=+y3(a)=6(a)
x=y3(a)=6((a))
+x=y3(a)=6(a)
x=y3((a))=6(a)

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|3|a|=6|a|
x=+y , +x=y3(a)=6(a)
x=y , x=y3(a)=6((a))

3. Solve the two equations for a

3 additional steps

3a=6a

Subtract from both sides:

(3a)-6a=(6a)-6a

Simplify the arithmetic:

-3a=(6a)-6a

Simplify the arithmetic:

3a=0

Divide both sides by the coefficient:

a=0

5 additional steps

3a=6·-a

Group like terms:

3a=(6·-1)a

Multiply the coefficients:

3a=6a

Add to both sides:

(3a)+6a=(-6a)+6a

Simplify the arithmetic:

9a=(-6a)+6a

Simplify the arithmetic:

9a=0

Divide both sides by the coefficient:

a=0

4. List the solutions

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

5. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
y=3|a|
y=6|a|
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.