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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = - 10, \frac{22}{7}

x=-10 , \frac{22}{7}

Mixed number form:

x = - 10, 3 \frac{1}{7}

x=-10 , 3\frac{1}{7}

Decimal form:

x = - 10, 3.143

x=-10 , 3.143

See steps

Step-by-step explanation

1. 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
$| 5 x + 4 | = | 2 x - 26 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 5 x + 4 \| = \| 2 x - 26 \|$
$x = + y$	$(5 x + 4) = (2 x - 26)$
$x = - y$	$(5 x + 4) = - (2 x - 26)$
$+ x = y$	$(5 x + 4) = (2 x - 26)$
$- x = y$	$- (5 x + 4) = (2 x - 26)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 5 x + 4 \| = \| 2 x - 26 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(5 x + 4) = (2 x - 26)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(5 x + 4) = - (2 x - 26)$

2. Solve the two equations for x

11 additional steps

$(5 x + 4) = (2 x - 26)$

Subtract from both sides:

$(5 x + 4) - 2 x = (2 x - 26) - 2 x$

Group like terms:

$(5 x - 2 x) + 4 = (2 x - 26) - 2 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$3 x + 4 = (2 x - 26) - 2 x$

Group like terms:

$3 x + 4 = (2 x - 2 x) - 26$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$3 x + 4 = - 26$

Subtract from both sides:

$(3 x + 4) - 4 = - 26 - 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$3 x = - 26 - 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$3 x = - 30$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(3 x)}{3} = \frac{- 30}{3}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 30}{3}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

$x = \frac{(- 10 \cdot 3)}{(1 \cdot 3)}$

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = - 10$

10 additional steps

$(5 x + 4) = - (2 x - 26)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(5 x + 4) = - 2 x + 26$

Add to both sides:

$(5 x + 4) + 2 x = (- 2 x + 26) + 2 x$

Group like terms:

$(5 x + 2 x) + 4 = (- 2 x + 26) + 2 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$7 x + 4 = (- 2 x + 26) + 2 x$

Group like terms:

$7 x + 4 = (- 2 x + 2 x) + 26$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$7 x + 4 = 26$

Subtract from both sides:

$(7 x + 4) - 4 = 26 - 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$7 x = 26 - 4$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$7 x = 22$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(7 x)}{7} = \frac{22}{7}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{22}{7}$

3. List the solutions

$x = - 10, \frac{22}{7}$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | 5 x + 4 |$
$y = | 2 x - 26 |$
The equation is true where the two lines cross.

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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 without absolute value bars

2. Solve the two equations for x

3. List the solutions

4. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

Solution - Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

1. Rewrite the equation without absolute value bars

2. Solve the two equations for x

3. List the solutions

4. Graph

Why learn this

Terms and topics

Related links

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