Absolute Value
This is where those vertical bars come in.
|make everything positive|
|remove all negatives|
Example time...
- |3| = 3
- |-3| = 3
- |86868| = |86868|
- |x| = ??
What if the absolute value is part of the equation?
|x| = 4, what could you put in the || to get 4?
You know it! 4 and -4!
Two answers! That's ok!
To generalize this, first get the absolute value bars by themselves on one side of the equation, then create two copies of the equation.
Leave one copy alone, but for the other, multiply the non-absolute-value side by -1.
Solve both equations.
Accept both answers.
Cross your arms and smirk.
Question? Need Help?
E-mail seanb@algebravision.com
You'll get a real response within 24 hours.