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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: x=2,6
x=2 , 6

Other Ways to Solve

Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

1. 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
|x|=2|x+3|
without the absolute value bars:

|x|=|y||x|=2|x+3|
x=+y(x)=2(x+3)
x=y(x)=2((x+3))
+x=y(x)=2(x+3)
x=y(x)=2(x+3)

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||x|=2|x+3|
x=+y , +x=y(x)=2(x+3)
x=y , x=y(x)=2((x+3))

2. Solve the two equations for x

11 additional steps

x=2·(-x+3)

Expand the parentheses:

x=2·-x+2·3

Group like terms:

x=(2·-1)x+2·3

Multiply the coefficients:

x=-2x+2·3

Simplify the arithmetic:

x=2x+6

Add to both sides:

x+2x=(-2x+6)+2x

Simplify the arithmetic:

3x=(-2x+6)+2x

Group like terms:

3x=(-2x+2x)+6

Simplify the arithmetic:

3x=6

Divide both sides by :

(3x)3=63

Simplify the fraction:

x=63

Find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator:

x=(2·3)(1·3)

Factor out and cancel the greatest common factor:

x=2

9 additional steps

x=2·(-(-x+3))

Expand the parentheses:

x=2·(x-3)

x=2x+2·-3

Simplify the arithmetic:

x=2x6

Subtract from both sides:

x-2x=(2x-6)-2x

Simplify the arithmetic:

-x=(2x-6)-2x

Group like terms:

-x=(2x-2x)-6

Simplify the arithmetic:

x=6

Multiply both sides by :

-x·-1=-6·-1

Remove the one(s):

x=-6·-1

Simplify the arithmetic:

x=6

3. List the solutions

x=2,6
(2 solution(s))

4. Graph

Each line represents the function of one side of the equation:
y=|x|
y=2|x+3|
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.