SOLVING EQUATIONS CONTAINING ABSOLUTE VALUE(S)

Note:





Solve for x in the following equation.


Problem 3.2b :

tex2html_wrap_inline165


Step1: Isolate the absolute value expression by adding 5 to both sides of the equation.



Step 2: Set the quantity within the absolute value notation to tex2html_wrap_inline167 .

eqnarray50


Step 3: Solve for x in both equations.



The answers are tex2html_wrap_inline169 and tex2html_wrap_inline171 .



Step 4: Check the solution tex2html_wrap_inline173 by substituting tex2html_wrap_inline169 in the original equation for x. If the left side of the equation equals the right side of the equation after the substitution, you have found the correct answer:




Check the solution tex2html_wrap_inline181 by substituting tex2html_wrap_inline171 in the original equation for x. If the left side of the equation equals the right side of the equation after the substitution, you have found the correct answer :




You can also check your answer by graphing tex2html_wrap_inline189 (the left side of the original equation minus the right side of the original equation). You will note that the two x-intercepts on the graph are located at tex2html_wrap_inline191 and tex2html_wrap_inline193 .


If you would like to review the solution and answer to problem 3.2c, click on Solution.

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