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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form:

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

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

Mixed number form:

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

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

Decimal form:

x = 2.5, - 1

x=2.5 , -1

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
$| 6 x - 1 | = | 2 x + 9 |$
without the absolute value bars:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 6 x - 1 \| = \| 2 x + 9 \|$
$x = + y$	$(6 x - 1) = (2 x + 9)$
$x = - y$	$(6 x - 1) = - (2 x + 9)$
$+ x = y$	$(6 x - 1) = (2 x + 9)$
$- x = y$	$- (6 x - 1) = (2 x + 9)$

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:

$\| x \| = \| y \|$	$\| 6 x - 1 \| = \| 2 x + 9 \|$
$x = + y$ , $+ x = y$	$(6 x - 1) = (2 x + 9)$
$x = - y$ , $- x = y$	$(6 x - 1) = - (2 x + 9)$

2. Solve the two equations for x

11 additional steps

$(6 x - 1) = (2 x + 9)$

Subtract from both sides:

$(6 x - 1) - 2 x = (2 x + 9) - 2 x$

Group like terms:

$(6 x - 2 x) - 1 = (2 x + 9) - 2 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$4 x - 1 = (2 x + 9) - 2 x$

Group like terms:

$4 x - 1 = (2 x - 2 x) + 9$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$4 x - 1 = 9$

Add to both sides:

$(4 x - 1) + 1 = 9 + 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$4 x = 9 + 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$4 x = 10$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(4 x)}{4} = \frac{10}{4}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{10}{4}$

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

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

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

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

11 additional steps

$(6 x - 1) = - (2 x + 9)$

Expand the parentheses:

$(6 x - 1) = - 2 x - 9$

Add to both sides:

$(6 x - 1) + 2 x = (- 2 x - 9) + 2 x$

Group like terms:

$(6 x + 2 x) - 1 = (- 2 x - 9) + 2 x$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$8 x - 1 = (- 2 x - 9) + 2 x$

Group like terms:

$8 x - 1 = (- 2 x + 2 x) - 9$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$8 x - 1 = - 9$

Add to both sides:

$(8 x - 1) + 1 = - 9 + 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$8 x = - 9 + 1$

Simplify the arithmetic:

$8 x = - 8$

Divide both sides by :

$\frac{(8 x)}{8} = \frac{- 8}{8}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = \frac{- 8}{8}$

Simplify the fraction:

$x = - 1$

3. List the solutions

$x = \frac{5}{2}, - 1$
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
$y = | 6 x - 1 |$
$y = | 2 x + 9 |$
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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