9.3 Equations and Absolute Value
Goal(s): To solve equations involving
absolute value
Solve: |x - 3| = 2
•What values can be substituted for “x” to
make the equation true?
5 or x 1
Solving Equations with Absolute Values
To solve an equation of the form
|A| = b
Solve the disjunction
A = b or A = -b
Solve for “x”: |x + 3| = 7
x + 3 = 7 x + 3 = -7
Do not write the absolute value brackets
when you set up the two different
equations.
Solve |5x – 3| = -17
No solution. The
solution set is
Solving |absolute value| equations:
The absolute value expression must
be “by itself” before writing the two
different equations.
113 7 |2x+5|
7 7
3|2 5| 18x
3 3
|2 5| 6x