College Preparatory Mathematics

Section 1.6 Absolute Value Equations

When solving equations with absolute value we can end up with more than one possible answer. This is because what is in the absolute value can be either negative or positive and we must account for both possibilities when solving equations. This is illustrated in the following example.

Notice that we have considered two possibilities, both the positive and negative. Either way, the absolute value of our number will be positive \(7\text{.}\)

World View Note: The first set of rules for working with negatives came from 7th century India. However, in \(1758\text{,}\) almost a thousand years later, British mathematician Francis Maseres claimed that negatives "Darken the very whole doctrines of the equations and make dark of the things which are in their nature excessively obvious and simple."

When we have absolute values in our problem it is important to first isolate the absolute value, then remove the absolute value by considering both the positive and negative solutions. Notice in the next two examples, all the numbers outside of the absolute value are moved to the other side first before we remove the absolute value bars and consider both positive and negative solutions.

Notice we never combine what is inside the absolute value with what is outside the absolute value. This is very important as it will often change the final result to an incorrect solution. The next example requires two steps to isolate the absolute value. The idea is the same as a two-step equation, add or subtract, then multiply or divide.

Again, we see the same process, get the absolute value alone first, then consider the positive and negative solutions. Often the absolute value will have more than just a variable in it. In this case we will have to solve the resulting equations when we consider the positive and negative possibilities. This is shown in the next example.

Thus, from our previous example we have two solutions, \(x=4\) or \(x=-3\text{.}\)

Again, it is important to remember that the absolute value must be alone first before we consider the positive and negative possibilities. This is illustrated in below.

As we are solving absolute value equations it is important to be aware of special cases. Remember the result of an absolute value must always be positive. Notice what happens in the next example.

One other type of absolute value problem is when two absolute values are equal to each other. We still will consider both the positive and negative result, the difference here will be that we will have to distribute a negative into the second absolute value for the negative possibility.