How do you solve #|10x + 2| - 18 = -12#?
1 Answer
This is an absolute value equation. As a result, we must consider two scenarios: that the absolute value is positive or negative.
Explanation:
First, before I solve the equation, let me prove the point I made above to further your understanding.
Let's look at an extremely simple equation involving absolute value.
An absolute value, by definition, means the distance on the number line between 0 and the number. This distance doesn't take into account direction and therefore always is positive.
So, we must consider in the above equation the following:
x = 2 or -x = 2
x = 2 or x = -2
Checking these solutions back in the equation, you'll notice both will work, since
Solving your equation:
We must first isolate the absolute value:
Hopefully this helps, and happy voting tomorrow!
