<img src="https://d5nxst8fruw4z.cloudfront.net/atrk.gif?account=iA1Pi1a8Dy00ym" style="display:none" height="1" width="1" alt="" />

# Absolute Value Equations

## Equations may have two solutions due to the absolute value operation

Estimated11 minsto complete
%
Progress
Practice Absolute Value Equations

MEMORY METER
This indicates how strong in your memory this concept is
Progress
Estimated11 minsto complete
%
Absolute Value Equations

### Absolute Value Equations

In the previous concept, we saw how to solve simple absolute value equations. In this concept, you will see how to solve more complicated absolute value equations.

#### Solving Absolute Value Equations

1. Solve the equation |x4|=5\begin{align*}|x-4|=5\end{align*} and interpret the answers.

We consider two possibilities: the expression inside the absolute value sign is non-negative or is negative. Then we solve each equation separately.

x4=5andx4=5  x=9 x=1\begin{align*}& x-4 = 5 \quad \text{and} \quad x-4=-5\\ & \quad \ \ x=9 \qquad \qquad \quad \ x=-1\end{align*}

x=9\begin{align*}x = 9\end{align*} and x=1\begin{align*}x = -1\end{align*} are the solutions.

The equation |x4|=5\begin{align*}|x-4|=5\end{align*} can be interpreted as “what numbers on the number line are 5 units away from the number 4?” If we draw the number line we see that there are two possibilities: 9 and -1.

2. Solve the equation |x+3|=2\begin{align*}|x+3|=2\end{align*} and interpret the answers.

Solve the two equations:

x+3=2and  x+3=2  x=1 x=5\begin{align*}& x+3 = 2 \quad \text{and} \quad \ \ x+3=-2\\ & \quad \ \ x=-1 \qquad \qquad \quad \ x=-5\end{align*}

x=5\begin{align*}x = -5\end{align*} and x=1\begin{align*}x = -1\end{align*} are the answers.

The equation |x+3|=2\begin{align*}|x+3|=2\end{align*} can be re-written as: |x(3)|=2\begin{align*}|x-(-3)|=2\end{align*}. We can interpret this as “what numbers on the number line are 2 units away from -3?” There are two possibilities: -5 and -1.

#### Real-World Application: Packing Coffee

A company packs coffee beans in airtight bags. Each bag should weigh 16 ounces, but it is hard to fill each bag to the exact weight. After being filled, each bag is weighed; if it is more than 0.25 ounces overweight or underweight, it is emptied and repacked. What are the lightest and heaviest acceptable bags?

The weight of each bag is allowed to be 0.25 ounces away from 16 ounces; in other words, the difference between the bag’s weight and 16 ounces is allowed to be 0.25 ounces. So if x\begin{align*}x\end{align*} is the weight of a bag in ounces, then the equation that describes this problem is |x16|=0.25\begin{align*}|x-16|=0.25\end{align*}.

Now we must consider the positive and negative options and solve each equation separately:

x16=0.25andx16=0.25x=16.25  x=15.75\begin{align*}& x-16 = 0.25 \qquad \text{and} \quad x-16 =-0.25\\ & \qquad x=16.25 \qquad \qquad \qquad \ \ x=15.75\end{align*}

The lightest acceptable bag weighs 15.75 ounces and the heaviest weighs 16.25 ounces.

We see that 16.2516=0.25 ounces\begin{align*}16.25 - 16 = 0.25 \ ounces\end{align*} and 1615.75=0.25 ounces\begin{align*}16 - 15.75 = 0.25 \ ounces\end{align*}. The answers are 0.25 ounces bigger and smaller than 16 ounces respectively.

The answer you just found describes the lightest and heaviest acceptable bags of coffee beans. But how do we describe the total possible range of acceptable weights? That’s where inequalities become useful once again.

### Example

#### Example 1

Solve the equation |2x7|=6\begin{align*}|2x-7|=6\end{align*} and interpret the answers.

Solve the two equations:

2x7=62x7=6  2x=13and  2x=1   x=132  x=12\begin{align*}& 2x-7 = 6 \qquad \qquad \quad 2x-7=-6\\ & \quad \ \ 2x=13 \qquad \text{and} \qquad \ \ 2x=1\\ & \quad \ \ \ x=\frac{13}{2} \qquad \qquad \qquad \ \ x=\frac{1}{2}\end{align*}

Answer: x=132\begin{align*}x=\frac{13}{2}\end{align*} and x=12\begin{align*}x=\frac{1}{2}\end{align*}.

The interpretation of this problem is clearer if the equation |2x7|=6\begin{align*}|2x-7|=6\end{align*} is divided by 2 on both sides to get 12|2x7|=3\begin{align*}\frac{1}{2}|2x-7|=3\end{align*}. Because 12\begin{align*}\frac{1}{2}\end{align*} is nonnegative, we can distribute it over the absolute value sign to get x72=3\begin{align*}\left | x-\frac{7}{2} \right |=3\end{align*}. The question then becomes “What numbers on the number line are 3 units away from 72\begin{align*}\frac{7}{2}\end{align*}?” There are two answers: 132\begin{align*}\frac{13}{2}\end{align*} and 12\begin{align*}\frac{1}{2}\end{align*}.

### Review

Solve the absolute value equations and interpret the results by graphing the solutions on the number line.

1. |x5|=10\begin{align*}|x-5|=10\end{align*}
2. |x+2|=6\begin{align*}|x+2|=6\end{align*}
3. |5x2|=3\begin{align*}|5x-2|=3\end{align*}
4. |x4|=3\begin{align*}|x-4|=-3\end{align*}
5. 2x12=10\begin{align*}\left|2x-\frac{1}{2}\right|=10\end{align*}
6. |x+5|=15\begin{align*}|-x+5|=\frac{1}{5}\end{align*}
7. 12x5=100\begin{align*}\left|\frac{1}{2}x-5\right|=100\end{align*}
8. |10x5|=15\begin{align*}|10x-5|=15\end{align*}
9. |0.1x+3|=0.015\begin{align*}|0.1x+3|=0.015\end{align*}
10. |272x|=3x+2\begin{align*}|27-2x|=3x+2\end{align*}

### Notes/Highlights Having trouble? Report an issue.

Color Highlighted Text Notes

### Vocabulary Language: English

Absolute Value

The absolute value of a number is the distance the number is from zero. Absolute values are never negative.

linear equation

A linear equation is an equation between two variables that produces a straight line when graphed.