1 / 15

ADMATHS

SECTION: ALGEBRA

MODULE 15: ABSOLUTE VALUES

LESSON 15.1: ABSOLUTE VALUE EQUATIONS

The absolute value sign looks likes this: | 5 |  5

( The absolute value of 5 is 5 )

2 2 9 9
4  4 ;  ;   ;  1000  1000
3 3 2 2

It is clear that the absolute value function gives the (positive) number size
component of a number. It always gives a positive answer.

The absolute value of a positive number is the number itself.

The absolute value of a negative number is the positive version of it.
(take away the " " sign or multiply with  1 or negate the number)

NOTE:

You can also use the ABS button on your calculator to determine the absolute
value of a number.

We want to formulate a general definition of the absolute value of a number.

Take note:  5  5   (5)

 32  32   ( 32)

 1,3  1,3   ( 1,3)

Thus: x   x if x  0

Now we are ready for it...

©2018 AdMaths A15.1

 2 / 15
DEFINITION:

 x if x  0
x  
  x if x  0


NB: x  0

x  x2 (Chew on this a bit!)

But: x  ( x )2 (Why?)

ABSOLUTE VALUE EQUATIONS

We will only solve for x  in this course.

EXAMPLE 1

Solve for x: x  3

Let us do this one by inspection. Well, x can obviously be 3 or  3,

because the absolute value of both 3 and  3 gives 3.

Thus: x  3 or x   3

EXAMPLE 2

Solve for x: x  1

The absolute value of no number can ever give a negative answer. Watch out
for this one!

Thus: no x

©2018 AdMaths A15.1

 3 / 15
EXAMPLE 3

Solve for x: 5x  10

The simple format of the question makes it easy for us. The contents of the
absolute value, viz. 5 x must be either 10 or  10. Agree?

5x  10 or 5x   10
x  2 or x  2
EXAMPLE 4

x
Solve for x: 3  1  13
2
x
3  12
2
x
 4
2
x x
 4 or  4
2 2
x  8 or x   8

EXAMPLE 5

Solve for x: 2x  1  3

The simple format of the question still makes it easy for us. The contents of
the absolute value, viz. 2x  1 must be either 3 or  3.

2x  1  3 or 2x  1   3
2x  4 or 2x   2
x  2 or x  1

©2018 AdMaths A15.1

 4 / 15
EXAMPLE 6

Solve for x: x2  6x  4  4

The contents of the absolute value, viz. x2  6x  4 is either 4 or  4.

x2  6x  4  4 or x 2  6x  4   4

x2  6x  0 or x 2  6x  8  0
x(x  6)  0 or (x  2) (x  4)  0
x  0 or x   6 or x   2 or x   4

REMEMBER:

b  b2  4ac
The formula: x 
2a

EXAMPLE 7

Solve for x: x2  2x  1 (Correct to 2 dec.)

x 2  2x  1 or x 2  2x   1
x 2  2x  1  0 or x 2  2x  1  0
2  8
x  or (x  1)2  0
2
x  0,41 or x   2,41 or x  1

©2018 AdMaths A15.1

 5 / 15
EXERCISE 1

Solve for x: (Correct to 2 dec.)

1
1. x  2
2

2.  3x  6

3. 2x  3

4. 2x  1  5

5. x2  3

6. x2  3x  1  1

7. x2  2x  3

8. x2  122  22

9. x2  6x  9

10
10.  5
x 1

11. 0  2 x 1  4

12. 0   5x  3

3
13. 0 
x2

9
14. 0  3
x

15. x2  3x  4  1

©2018 AdMaths A15.1

 6 / 15
EXAMPLE 8

Solve for x: 2x  1  x

Here you have x’s inside and outside the absolute value function for the
first time.

Let us see whether we can apply the approach of EXAMPLES 1 - 6 here:

2x  1  x or 2x  1   x
x  1 or 3x   1
1
x  
3

Now test these answers:

x   1: LHS  2( 1)  1  1 RHS   1 x

1 1 1 1
x   : LHS  2(  )  1  RHS   x
3 3 3 3

Neither of the two answers satisfy the equation. To prevent this tedious
testing in future sums, you have to learn the definition method...

©2018 AdMaths A15.1

 7 / 15
APPLICATION OF DEFINITION

EXAMPLE 9

Solve for x: x 1  3

x  1 if x  1 0
x  1  
(x  1) if x  1 0

You will split the sum in two if-then cases:

*
If x 1 0 i.o.w. if x  1

then x  1  3

x  4 (which is valid, because 4  1 )

*
If x  1  0 i.o.w. if x  1

then (x  1)  3
x  1  3
x   2 (which is valid, because 2  1)

Thus: x  4 or x   2

*
REMEMBER:

• Write down the “if” and “then” conditions when using the definition
method.
• Always test your answer(s).

©2018 AdMaths A15.1

 8 / 15

EXAMPLE 10

Solve for x: x3  2x  7

If x  3  0 i.o.w. if x   3

then x  3  2x  7
 x   10
x  10 (Valid.)

If x  3  0 i.o.w. if x   3

then (x  3)  2x  7
 3x   4
4
x  (Invalid.)
3

Thus: x  10

EXAMPLE 11

Solve for x: x4  3x   8

If x  4  0 i.o.w. if x  4

then (x  4)  3x   8
4x   4
x  1 x

If x  4  0 i.o.w. if x  4

then (x  4)  3x   8
2x   12

x  6
Thus: x   6

©2018 AdMaths A15.1

 9 / 15

EXAMPLE 12

Solve for x: x x  2x2  27

If x  0

then x (x)  2x 2  27
3x2  27

x2  9
x  3 or x  3

If x  0

then x (  x)  2x 2  27
x2  27

x   9.3

x  3 3 or x   3 3

Thus: x  3 or x  3 3

So can you see that the definition method provides a built-in test with
its if-statements and that no further test is necessary at the end.

Any other method than the definition method requires that you must
test your solutions into the original equation; except in cases like
EXAMPLES 1 - 6.

©2018 AdMaths A15.1

 10 / 15

EXAMPLE 13

Solve for x: 3x2  13x  4  2x

The definition method really fails us here as we have certainly no longing to

solve the inequality 3x2  13x  4  0 .

Back to example 7 thinking:

3x2  13x  4  2x or 3x 2  13x  4   2x

3x2  11x  4  0 or 3x 2  15x  4  0

15  273
(3x  1)(x  4)  0 or x 
6
1
x  or x   4 or x  0,25... or x   5,25...
3

TEST:

1 1 1 2
x  : LHS  3( )2  13( )  4 
3 3 3 3
1 2
RHS  2( ) 
3 3

x   4 : LHS  3(4)2  13(4)  4  8

RHS  2(4)   8 x

x  0,25...:
LHS  3(0,25...)2  13(0,25...)  4  0,5075...

RHS  2(0,25...)  0,5075...

©2018 AdMaths A15.1

 11 / 15

x   5,25... : LHS  3( 5,25...)2  13( 5,25...)  4  10,5075...

RHS  2( 5,25...)   10,5075... x

1
Thus: x  or x  0,2537...
3

The general rule is that if you have a quadratic expression in the absolute
value, do as above and test. If you merely have linear, do with definition
method with its built-in test.

EXAMPLE 14

2
Solve for x: 2x  1  1  2x  6

Two absolute values! What now?

Do you agree that x  x ???

That is why 2x 1   (1  2x)  1  2x

2
Thus: 2x  1  2x  1  6

K-method! Make K  2x  1

K2  K  6

K2  K  6  0
(K  3) (K  2)  0
K   3 or K  2

2x  1   3 or 2x  1  2
no x or 2x  1  2 or 2x  1   2
3 1
x  or x  
2 2

©2018 AdMaths A15.1

 12 / 15

EXAMPLE 15

Solve for x: x 2
 2 x  15

We must use the definition or K-method here.

Definition method:

If x  0

then x2  2x  15

x2  2x  15  0
(x  5) (x  3)  0
x  5 or x  3

If x  0

then (x)2  2(x)  15

x2   2x  15

x2  2x  15  0
(x  5) (x  3)  0
x   5 or x  3

Thus: x  5 or x   5

©2018 AdMaths A15.1

 13 / 15

SUMMARY OF TYPES

TYPE 1 : All x’s inside absolute value:

Do as Examples 1-6: no testing.

2x  1  3

x2  6x  4  4

TYPE 2 : x’s inside and outside absolute value:

Definition method.

E.g. x3  2x  7

TYPE 3 : x’s inside and outside absolute value and quadratic inside:
Do as Example 13 and TEST!

E.g. 3x2  13x  4  2x

TYPE 4 : K-method

2
E.g. 2x  1  2x  1  6

EXERCISE 2

1. Solve for x by using the definition method:

x  5  2x  4

2. Solve for x:

2.1 x x  5x 2   24

2.2 8x 3
 3 8x 2
 3 8x  1 0

©2018 AdMaths A15.1

 14 / 15

HOMEWORK:

QUESTION 1

Solve for x: (Correct to 2 decimals where necessary.)

1.1 x  2  0

1.2 3x  4  5  0

1.3 x2  7x  5  5

1.4 x2  3x  10

4
1.5  3
x 1

1.6 0  2 5x  6  1

2
1.7  0
x7

x5
1.8  0
4

3
1.9 0  8
x

10
1.10 x 1   3
x 1

©2018 AdMaths A15.1

 15 / 15

QUESTION 2

Determine the value of the unknown:

2.1 3a  1  a

2.2 2b  5  b  6

2.3 p  7   2p  1

2.4 k k  3k 2  64

2.5 5m2  7m  6  6m

2.6 e2  104  40

2
2.7 4q  1  2 1  4q  15

2
2.8 w  4 w  21

2.9 3y y   5y 2  512

3 2
2.10 3x  2  9 3x  2  3x  2  9  0

©2018 AdMaths A15.1