Absolute value

| x | : is the distance between x and 0.

If | x | = 8, then
– 8 and 8 is a solution of the
equation ; or | x |  8, then any number between 8
and 8 is a solution of the inequality.
 Absolute Value (of x)
• Symbol lxl
• The distance x is from 0 on the number line.
• Always positive
• Ex: l-3l=3

-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

Recall:
You can solve some absolute-value To solve absolute-value equations, you
equations using mental math. For can use the fact that the expression inside
instance, you learned that the equation the absolute value symbols can be either
| x | 3 has two solutions: 3 and 3. positive or negative.
 Absolute Value (|x|)
the distance a number is away
from the origin on a number line

The distance away from zero is less than 3 in both

the positive and negative direction.
 Solving an Absolute-Value Equation:
Solve | x  2 |  5 Solve | 2x  7 |  5  4
 Answer ::
Solving an Absolute-Value Equation
Solve | x  2 |  5

The expression x  2 can be equal to 5 or 5.

x  2 IS POSITIVE x  2 IS NEGATIVE

|x2|5 |x2|5
x  2  5 x  2  5

x7 x  3

The equation has two solutions: 7 and –3.

CHECK | 7  2 |  | 5 |  5 | 3  2 |  | 5 |  5
 Answer ::
Solve | 2x  7 |  5  4
SOLUTION
Isolate the absolute value expression on one side of the equation.

2x  7 IS POSITIVE 2x  77 IS
2x IS NEGATIVE
NEGATIVE

| 2x  7 |  5  4 2x  77 ||  55  44
|| 2x

| 2x  7 |  9 2x  77 ||  99
|| 2x

2x  7  +9
2x 
2x
2x 7 
 77 9
 9
9
2x  16 2x  2
2x 2
x8 x  1
TWO SOLUTIONS x  1
Solve the following Absolute-Value Equation:

Practice:

1) Solve 6x-3 = 15

2) Solve 2x + 7 -3 = 8
 Answer ::

1) Solve 6x-3 = 15

6x-3 = 15 or 6x-3 = -15

6x = 18 or 6x = -12
x = 3 or x = -2

* Plug in answers to check your solutions!

 Answer ::
2) Solve 2x + 7 -3 = 8
Get the abs. value part by itself first!
2x+7 = 11
Now split into 2 parts.
2x+7 = 11 or 2x+7 = -11
2x = 4 or 2x = -18
x = 2 or x = -9
Check the solutions.
Absolute Value Equations
|x|=5 | x | = –2
Same Opposite
x=5 x=–5 No Solution

Two Solutions

Absolute Value Property

If |x| = a, where x is a variable or an expression and
a  0, then x = a or x = a.
Solving Absolute Value Equations

1. Isolate the absolute value so that the equation

is in the form |ax + b| = c.
 If c < 0, the equation has no solution.

2. Separate the absolute value into two equations,

ax + b = c and ax + b =  c.

3. Solve both equations.

 Absolute Value Equations
1. Isolate
2. Two Cases
3. Solve
3  2x  5  9
5 5
Keep the
absolute
value bars!
3  2x  4
Same Opposite

Drop the
absolute
3  2x  4 3  2x  4
value bars! 3 3 3 3
 2x  1  2x  7
2 2 2 2
1 x
7
x  1 , 7 
2 2  
 2 2
 1. Isolate
Absolute Value Equations 2. Two Cases
3. Solve

3k  1  4  6
4 4
Keep the
absolute
value bars!
3k  1  10
Same Opposite

Drop the
absolute
3k  1  10 3k  1  10
value bars! 1 1 1 1
3k  11 3k  9
3 3 3 3
11
k k  3  3, 11 
3  
 3
 1. Isolate
Absolute Value Equations 2. Two Cases
3. Solve

x  7  12  7
 12  12
x  7  5

No Solution
 1. Isolate
Absolute Value Equations 2. Two Cases
3. Solve

2y  5  0

Same Opposite

2y  5  0
5 5
2y  5
2 2
5
y  5 
2  
 2
 Solving an Absolute Value Inequality:
●Step 1
●If you have “Less than” inequality use ‘and’
statement.

●If you have a “Greater than” inequality use ‘or’

statement.
●Step 2: In the second equation you must negate
the right hand side and reverse the direction of the
inequality sign.

●Solve as a compound inequality.

Ex: “and” inequality
4 x  9  21
• Becomes an “and” problem

Positive Negative
4x – 9 ≤ 21 4x – 9 ≥ -21
+9 +9 +9 +9
4x ≤ 30 4x ≥ -12
4 4 4 4
x ≤ 7.5 x ≥ -3

-3 7 8
This is an ‘or’ In the 2nd
statement. Ex: “or” inequality inequality, reverse
the inequality sign
(Greator).
and negate the
|2x + 1| > 7 right side value.

2x + 1 > 7 or 2x + 1 < - 7
–1 -1 –1 -1
2x > 6 2x < - 8
2 2 2 2
x>3

-4 3
Solving Absolute Value Inequalities:
Solve | x  4 | < 3 and graph the solution.

Solve | 2x  1 | 3  6 and graph the solution.

 Answer ::
Solve | x  4 | < 3
x  4 IS POSITIVE x  4 IS NEGATIVE

|x4|3 |x4|3

x  4  3 x  4  3 Reverse
inequality symbol.
x7 x1

The solution is all real numbers greater than 1 and less than 7.

This can be written as 1  x  7.

 Answer ::
Solve | 2x  1 | 3  6 and graph the solution.
2x + 1 IS POSITIVE 2x + 1 IS NEGATIVE

| 2x  1 |  3  6 | 2x  1 | 3  6 Reverse
inequality
| 2x  1 |  9 | 2x  1 |  9 symbol.

2x  1  +9 2x  1  9

2x  8 2x  10

x4 x  5
The solution is all real numbers greater than or equal
to 4 or less than or equal to  5. This can be written as the
compound inequality x   5 or x  4.

6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
 Solve and graph the following
Absolute-Value Inequalities:
3) 3 x  2  3  11

4) |x -5| < 3
Solve & graph. Answer ::
3)
• Get absolute value by itself first.
3 x  2  3  11

• Becomes an “or” problem 3x  2  8

3x  2  8 or 3x  2  8
3x  10 or 3x  6
10
x or x  2
3

-2 3 4
 Answer ::
This is an ‘and’ statement.
4) |x -5|< 3 (Less thand).

x -5< 3 and x -5< 3 Rewrite.

x -5< 3 and x -5> -3 In the 2nd inequality, reverse the
inequality sign and negate the
x < 8 and x > 2 right side value.

2<x<8 Solve each inequality.

Graph the solution.

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