How do you solve -3|p|=12?

2 Answers
Sonnhard
May 20, 2018

Dividing by -3 we get |p|=-4 since |p|>=0 so we have no solutions.

Explanation:

We need that |x|=x if x>=0 and |x|=-x if x<0

Tony B
May 20, 2018

There is a problem with this!

See the alternative

Explanation:

The |p| always ends up positive. No matter what value p takes. Thus we have (-3) multiplied by some positive value. The consequence of this is that the left side will always be negative.

We can not have: "NEGATIVE = POSITIVE"
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color(blue)(" HOWEVER ")

If the question was meant to be:

-3|p|=-12 it will work

Divide both sides by (-3)

|p|=(-12)/(-3) = +4

|+-4|=4

p=+-4

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