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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: a=53,-1
a=\frac{5}{3} , -1
Mixed number form: a=123,-1
a=1\frac{2}{3} , -1
Decimal form: a=1.667,1
a=1.667 , -1

Other Ways to Solve

Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

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

4|a||a+5|=0

Add |a+5| to both sides of the equation:

4|a||a+5|+|a+5|=|a+5|

Simplify the arithmetic

4|a|=|a+5|

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
4|a|=|a+5|
without the absolute value bars:

|x|=|y|4|a|=|a+5|
x=+y4(a)=(a+5)
x=y4(a)=((a+5))
+x=y4(a)=(a+5)
x=y4((a))=(a+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|4|a|=|a+5|
x=+y , +x=y4(a)=(a+5)
x=y , x=y4(a)=((a+5))

3. Solve the two equations for a

5 additional steps

4a=(a+5)

Subtract from both sides:

(4a)-a=(a+5)-a

Simplify the arithmetic:

3a=(a+5)-a

Group like terms:

3a=(a-a)+5

Simplify the arithmetic:

3a=5

Divide both sides by :

(3a)3=53

Simplify the fraction:

a=53

7 additional steps

4a=-(a+5)

Expand the parentheses:

4a=a5

Add to both sides:

(4a)+a=(-a-5)+a

Simplify the arithmetic:

5a=(-a-5)+a

Group like terms:

5a=(-a+a)-5

Simplify the arithmetic:

5a=5

Divide both sides by :

(5a)5=-55

Simplify the fraction:

a=-55

Simplify the fraction:

a=1

4. List the solutions

a=53,-1
(2 solution(s))

5. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
y=4|a|
y=|a+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.