Write an absolute value equation that has the solutions x 8 and x 18

Absolute Value Equations

Follow these steps to solve an absolute value equality which contains one absolute value:

  1. Isolate the absolute value on one side of the equation.
  2. Is the number on the other side of the equation negative? If you answered yes, then the equation has no solution. If you answered no, then go on to step 3.
  3. Write two equations without absolute values. The first equation will set the quantity inside the bars equal to the number on the other side of the equal sign; the second equation will set the quantity inside the bars equal to the opposite of the number on the other side.
  4. Solve the two equations.


Follow these steps to solve an absolute value equality which contains two absolute values (one on each side of the equation):

  1. Write two equations without absolute values.  The first equation will set the quantity inside the bars on the left side equal to the quantity inside the bars on the right side.  The second equation will set the quantity inside the bars on the left side equal to the opposite of the quantity inside the bars on the right side.
  2. Solve the two equations.
 

Let's look at some examples.

Example 1: Solve |2x - 1| + 3 = 6
 

Step 1:Isolate the absolute value |2x - 1| + 3 = 6

|2x - 1| = 3

Step 2:Is the number on the other side of the equation negative? No, it�s a positive number, 3, so continue on to step 3
Step 3:Write two equations without absolute value bars 2x - 1 = 3 2x - 1 = -3
Step 4:Solve both equations 2x - 1 = 3

2x = 4

x = 2

2x - 1 = -3

2x = -2

x = -1


 

Example 2: Solve |3x - 6| - 9 = -3
 

Step 1:Isolate the absolute value |3x - 6| - 9 = -3

|3x - 6| = 6

Step 2:Is the number on the other side of the equation negative? No, it�s a positive number, 6, so continue on to step 3
Step 3:Write two equations without absolute value bars 3x - 6 = 6 3x - 6 = -6
Step 4:Solve both equations 3x - 6 = 6

3x = 12

x = 4

3x - 6 = -6

3x = 0

x = 0


 

Example 3: Solve |5x + 4| + 10 = 2
 

Step 1:Isolate the absolute value |5x + 4| + 10 = 2

|5x + 4| = -8

Step 2:Is the number on the other side of the equation negative? Yes, it�s a negative number, -8. There is no solution to this problem.

 

Example 4:  Solve |x - 7| = |2x - 2|
 

Step 1:Write two equations without absolute value bars x - 7 = 2x - 2 x - 7 = -(2x - 2)
Step 4:Solve both equations x - 7 = 2x - 2

-x - 7 = -2

-x = 5

x = -5

x - 7 = -2x + 2

3x - 7= 2

3x = 9

x = 3


 

Example 5:  Solve |x - 3| = |x + 2|
 

Step 1:Write two equations without absolute value bars x - 3 = x + 2 x - 3 = -(x + 2)
Step 4:Solve both equations x - 3 = x + 2

- 3 = -2

false statement

No solution from this equation

x - 3 = -x - 2

2x - 3= -2

2x = 1

x = 1/2

So the only solution to this problem is x = 1/2

Example 6:  Solve |x - 3| = |3 - x|
 

Step 1:Write two equations without absolute value bars x - 3 = 3 - x x - 3 = -(3 - x)
Step 4:Solve both equations x - 3 = 3 - x

2x - 3 = 3

2x = 6

x = 3

x - 3 = -(3 - x)

x - 3= -3 + x

-3 = -3

All real numbers are solutions to this equation

Since 3 is included in the set of real numbers, we will just say that the solution to this equation is All Real Numbers
 

What is the absolute value of 8?

The absolute value of a positive number is positive. The absolute value of 8 is |8|, which equals 8. The absolute value of a negative number is positive. The absolute value of –8 is |–8|, which equals 8.

What is the absolute value of x =

The absolute value (or modulus) | x | of a real number x is the non-negative value of x without regard to its sign. For example, the absolute value of 5 is 5, and the absolute value of −5 is also 5. The absolute value of a number may be thought of as its distance from zero along real number line.