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Solution - Absolute value equations

Exact form: s=3,1
s=-3 , 1

Other Ways to Solve

Absolute value equations

Step-by-step explanation

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

2|s|+|s+3|=0

Add |s+3| to both sides of the equation:

2|s|+|s+3||s+3|=|s+3|

Simplify the arithmetic

2|s|=|s+3|

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

|x|=|y|2|s|=|s+3|
x=+y2(s)=(s+3)
x=y2(s)=(s+3)
+x=y2(s)=(s+3)
x=y2((s))=(s+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|2|s|=|s+3|
x=+y , +x=y2(s)=(s+3)
x=y , x=y2(s)=(s+3)

3. Solve the two equations for s

4 additional steps

2s=-(-s+3)

Expand the parentheses:

2s=s-3

Subtract from both sides:

(2s)-s=(s-3)-s

Simplify the arithmetic:

s=(s-3)-s

Group like terms:

s=(s-s)-3

Simplify the arithmetic:

s=-3

7 additional steps

2s=-(-(-s+3))

NT_MSLUS_MAINSTEP_RESOLVE_DOUBLE_MINUS:

2s=-s+3

Add to both sides:

(2s)+s=(-s+3)+s

Simplify the arithmetic:

3s=(-s+3)+s

Group like terms:

3s=(-s+s)+3

Simplify the arithmetic:

3s=3

Divide both sides by :

(3s)3=33

Simplify the fraction:

s=33

Simplify the fraction:

s=1

4. List the solutions

s=3,1
(2 solution(s))

5. Graph

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