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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

x = 3, - \frac{17}{3}

x=3 , -\frac{17}{3}

Mixed number form:

x = 3, - 5 \frac{2}{3}

x=3 , -5\frac{2}{3}

Decimal form:

x = 3, - 5.667

x=3 , -5.667

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
$| 5 x - 2 | = | - 2 x + 19 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 5 x - 2 \| = \| - 2 x + 19 \|$
$x = + y$	$(5 x - 2) = (- 2 x + 19)$
$x = - y$	$(5 x - 2) = - (- 2 x + 19)$
$+ x = y$	$(5 x - 2) = (- 2 x + 19)$
$- x = y$	$- (5 x - 2) = (- 2 x + 19)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 5 x - 2 \| = \| - 2 x + 19 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(5 x - 2) = (- 2 x + 19)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(5 x - 2) = - (- 2 x + 19)$

2. Solve the two equations for x

11 additional steps

$(5 x - 2) = (- 2 x + 19)$

Add to both sides:

$(5 x - 2) + 2 x = (- 2 x + 19) + 2 x$

Group like terms:

$(5 x + 2 x) - 2 = (- 2 x + 19) + 2 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$7 x - 2 = (- 2 x + 19) + 2 x$

Group like terms:

$7 x - 2 = (- 2 x + 2 x) + 19$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$7 x - 2 = 19$

Add to both sides:

$(7 x - 2) + 2 = 19 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$7 x = 19 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$7 x = 21$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(7 x)}{7} = \frac{21}{7}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{21}{7}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

$x = \frac{(3 \cdot 7)}{(1 \cdot 7)}$

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

$x = 3$

10 additional steps

$(5 x - 2) = - (- 2 x + 19)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(5 x - 2) = 2 x - 19$

Subtract from both sides:

$(5 x - 2) - 2 x = (2 x - 19) - 2 x$

Group like terms:

$(5 x - 2 x) - 2 = (2 x - 19) - 2 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$3 x - 2 = (2 x - 19) - 2 x$

Group like terms:

$3 x - 2 = (2 x - 2 x) - 19$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$3 x - 2 = - 19$

Add to both sides:

$(3 x - 2) + 2 = - 19 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$3 x = - 19 + 2$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$3 x = - 17$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(3 x)}{3} = \frac{- 17}{3}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 17}{3}$

3. List the solutions

$x = 3, - \frac{17}{3}$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | 5 x - 2 |$
$y = | - 2 x + 19 |$
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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