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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

9|a|+|a|=0

Add |a| to both sides of the equation:

9|a|+|a||a|=|a|

Simplify the arithmetic

9|a|=|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
9|a|=|a|
without the absolute value bars:

|x|=|y|9|a|=|a|
x=+y9(a)=(a)
x=y9(a)=(a)
+x=y9(a)=(a)
x=y9((a))=(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|9|a|=|a|
x=+y , +x=y9(a)=(a)
x=y , x=y9(a)=(a)

3. Solve the two equations for a

3 additional steps

9a=a

Add to both sides:

(9a)+a=-a+a

Simplify the arithmetic:

10a=a+a

Simplify the arithmetic:

10a=0

Divide both sides by the coefficient:

a=0

3 additional steps

9a=a

Subtract from both sides:

(9a)-a=a-a

Simplify the arithmetic:

8a=aa

Simplify the arithmetic:

8a=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=9|a|
y=|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.