How do you solve abs(t+1)=4t +3?

2 Answers
Mar 2, 2018

Appliying definition of absolute value. See details

Explanation:

We define absolute value of a number as

absx=x if x>=0 and

absx=-x if x<=0

With this in mind, lets aplly to our equation in t

abs(t+1)=t+1 if t+1>=0, it say: t>= -1

abs(t+1)=-(t+1) if t+1<0, it say: t< -1

In the first case (t>= -1) :

t+1=4t+3

1-3=4t-t; thus t=-2/3 This value is valid because is bigger than -1

In the second case (t< -1) :

-(t+1)=4t+3

-t-1=4t+3

t=-4/5 this value is invalid because our initial restriction t<-1 is not verified by t=-4/5

Mar 2, 2018

t=-2/3

Explanation:

"the value inside the absolute value bars can be "
"positive or negative"

"thus there are 2 possible solutions"

t+1=4t+3larrcolor(blue)"positive inside bars"

"subtract "(t+1)" from both sides"

rArr0=3t+2

rArr3t=-2rArrt=-2/3larrcolor(red)"possible solution"

-t-1=4t+3larrcolor(blue)"negative inside bars"

rArr5t=-4rArrt=-4/5larrcolor(red)"possible solution "

color(blue)"As a check"

|-2/3+1|=|1/3|=1/3" and "-8/3+9/3=1/3

"both sides are equal hence "x=-2/3" is a solution"

|-4/5+1|=1/5" and "-16/5+15/5=-1/5

1/5!=-1/5" hence "t=-4/5" is not a solution"