How do you solve abs(k-5)=4?

1 Answer
Douglas K.
Aug 21, 2017

Given: abs(k-5)=4

You can break the above equation into two equations without the absolute value function, one where the right side is positive, and the other where the right side is negative:

k-5 = 4 and k - 5 = -4

Add 5 to both sides of both equations:

k = 9 and k = 1

Check k =9

|9 - 5| = 4

|4| = 4

4 = 4

Check k = 1:

|1-5| = 4

|-4| = 4

4 = 4

Both values check.

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