Enter an equation or problem

Camera input is not recognized!

Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = - \frac{11}{6}, - \frac{5}{2}

x=-\frac{11}{6} , -\frac{5}{2}

Mixed number form:

x = - 1 \frac{5}{6}, - 2 \frac{1}{2}

x=-1\frac{5}{6} , -2\frac{1}{2}

Decimal form:

x = - 1.833, - 2.5

x=-1.833 , -2.5

See steps

Step-by-step explanation

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

$| 2 x + 3 | + | 4 x + 8 | = 0$

Add $- | 4 x + 8 |$ to both sides of the equation:

$| 2 x + 3 | + | 4 x + 8 | - | 4 x + 8 | = - | 4 x + 8 |$

Simplify the arithmetic

$| 2 x + 3 | = - | 4 x + 8 |$

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
$| 2 x + 3 | = - | 4 x + 8 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 2 x + 3 \| = - \| 4 x + 8 \|$
$x = + y$	$(2 x + 3) = - (4 x + 8)$
$x = - y$	$(2 x + 3) = - - (4 x + 8)$
$+ x = y$	$(2 x + 3) = - (4 x + 8)$
$- x = y$	$- (2 x + 3) = - (4 x + 8)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 2 x + 3 \| = - \| 4 x + 8 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(2 x + 3) = - (4 x + 8)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(2 x + 3) = - - (4 x + 8)$

3. Solve the two equations for x

10 additional steps

$(2 x + 3) = - (4 x + 8)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(2 x + 3) = - 4 x - 8$

Add to both sides:

$(2 x + 3) + 4 x = (- 4 x - 8) + 4 x$

Group like terms:

$(2 x + 4 x) + 3 = (- 4 x - 8) + 4 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$6 x + 3 = (- 4 x - 8) + 4 x$

Group like terms:

$6 x + 3 = (- 4 x + 4 x) - 8$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$6 x + 3 = - 8$

Subtract from both sides:

$(6 x + 3) - 3 = - 8 - 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$6 x = - 8 - 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$6 x = - 11$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(6 x)}{6} = \frac{- 11}{6}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 11}{6}$

12 additional steps

$(2 x + 3) = - (- (4 x + 8))$

NT_MSLUS_MAINSTEP_RESOLVE_DOUBLE_MINUS:

$(2 x + 3) = 4 x + 8$

Subtract from both sides:

$(2 x + 3) - 4 x = (4 x + 8) - 4 x$

Group like terms:

$(2 x - 4 x) + 3 = (4 x + 8) - 4 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 2 x + 3 = (4 x + 8) - 4 x$

Group like terms:

$- 2 x + 3 = (4 x - 4 x) + 8$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 2 x + 3 = 8$

Subtract from both sides:

$(- 2 x + 3) - 3 = 8 - 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 2 x = 8 - 3$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$- 2 x = 5$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(- 2 x)}{- 2} = \frac{5}{- 2}$

Cancel out the negatives:

$\frac{2 x}{2} = \frac{5}{- 2}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{5}{- 2}$

Move the negative sign from the denominator to the numerator:

$x = \frac{- 5}{2}$

4. List the solutions

$x = - \frac{11}{6}, - \frac{5}{2}$
(2 solution(s))

5. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | 2 x + 3 |$
$y = - | 4 x + 8 |$
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