(11.08.20'17.

)
A COLLECTION OF SOLVED ABSOLUTE VALUE
PROBLEMS WITH SOLVING PROCEDURES
Definition: Absolute value of the real number x is function

x:  0,  )

defined like

 x, for x  0 
x   ;
 x, for x  0 

Some examples are here:

i) 0 0 where x0
 
x x

ii) 5  (5)  5 where x  5  0

 
x x

iii)  5  (5)  5 where x  5  0

 
x x

iv) x  ( x)  x where x  0

 
x x

v)  x  ( x)  x where x  ( x)  0 (from definition)

 
x x

vi) x y  x y where x  ( x  y)  0 (from definition)

 
x x

vii) (x  y)  (( x  y))  x  y where x  ( x  y)  0 (from definition)

 
x x

1
 13.08.2017.
Problem 1:
Calculate

3  3  5  27
.
27  3  1  3

To solve this problem we apply the definition of absolute value

 x, for x  0 
x   ;
 x, for x  0 
- Therefore, the above definition applies to a number or expression within the absolute value sign ;

- For this problem, we will determine the values for each expression within the absolute value sign and to
determine whether the expression within the absolute values is greater than or less than zero.
- Thus we have the following values within the sign of absolute values

i) 3 3 3  1,73  2,73 ;
- the obtained value for the expression under the absolute value sign, is greater than zero, i.e. 2,73  0
- so it is valid according to the definition of absolute value

3  3  (3  3)  0

ii) 5  27 5  5,1  0,1

- the obtained value for the expression under the absolute value sign is less than zero, i.e. 0,1  0
- so it is valid according to the definition of absolute value

5  27  (5  27)  0

iii) 27  3 5,1  3  2,1

- the obtained value for the expression under the absolute value sign is greater than zero, i.e. 2,1  0
- so it is valid according to the definition of absolute value

27  3  ( 27  3)  0

iv) 1 3 1  1,73  0,73

- the obtained value for the expression under the absolute value sign is less than zero, i.e. 0,73  0
- so it is valid according to the definition of absolute value

1  3  (1  3)  1  3

2
We include the resulting expressions in the given expression.

3  3  5  27

27  3  1  3

(3  3)  (5  27) 3  3  5  27

  
( 27  3)  (1  3) 27  3  1  3
3 5  3  93 8 3  9  3
  
3  1  9  3  3 4  9  3  3
8  3  3 3 8 4 3 4  (2  3)
   
4  3  3  3 4  4  3 4  (1  3)
2 3 2  3 1  3
   
1  3 1  3 1  3
(2  3)  ( 1  3) (2  3)  ( 1  3)
  
(1  3)  (1  3) (1) 2  ( 3) 2
2  (1)  2  ( 3)  ( 3)  ( 1)  (  3)  (  3)
 
1 3
2  2  3  3  (  3) 2 2  2  3  3  3
  
1 3 2
2  3  2  3  3 1  3
  
2 2
1  3 1 (1)  (1  3)
   
2 1 (1)  ( 2)
1  3
 ;
2

3
Problem 2:
Calculate

3  3 .

In this problem we have in the expression under the sign of the absolute value another member who is also
presented with a sign of absolute value.

This second member in given expression is 3 ;

- Here we first solve the absolute values of a member within the absolute value of the given expression.
- This means that we first solve the absolute values of a member 3 .
- The number within the sign of the absolute value of the second member of the given expression is -3
which is less than zero, ie. -3<0;
- According to the definition of absolute value, it is worth for x <0

x   x, x  0
from where it comes that is

-3  3 ; where x  3  0
 
x x
ii) Now let's include the resulting result in the given expression

3  3  3  (3)  33 1,73  3  4,73  4,73  0 ;

According to the definition of absolute value it follows that

x  x where x  0 (from definition)

 
x x

and
3  3  ( 3  (3))  ( 3  3)  ( 3  3)  3  3 ;

4
 14.08.2017.
Problem 3:
Solve the equation

2 x 3  7 .

The absolute value of the real number x is defined according to

+ x, for x  0 
 
x   0, for x  0  .
 x, for x  0 
 
In the equation given in our Problem 3, we can identify the expression under the sign of the absolute value with
the sign x in the definition of the absolute value, so that we can write

+(2  x  3), for (2  x  3)  0 


2 x 3    .
(2  x  3), for (2  x  3)  0 

- from this it follows that we have to solve two equations

2 x 3  7 .
i) (2  x  3)  7
ii) (2  x  3)  7

i)
 (2  x  3)  7
2 x 3  7
2 x  7  3
2  x  10 /:2
2  x 10
  5
2 2
x1  5 ;

ii)
(2  x  3)  7
2  x  3  7
2  x  7  3
2  x  4 /:(-2)
2  x 4
  2
2 2
x2  2 ;

5
Problem 4:
Solve the equation

x5  2 .

The absolute value of the real number x is defined according to

+ x, for x  0 
 
x   0, for x  0  .
 x, for x  0 
 
In the equation given in our Problem 3, we can identify the expression under the sign of the absolute value with
the sign x in the definition of the absolute value, so that we can write

+(x  5), for (x  5)  0

x5    .
-(x  5), for (x  5)  0 

- from this it follows that we have to solve two equations

x5  2 .

i) ( x  5)  2
ii) ( x  5)  2

i)
 ( x  5)  2
x5  2
x  25
x1  3 ;

ii)
( x  5)  2
x  5  2
x  2  5
 x  7 /  (-1)
( x)  (1)  7  (1)
x2  7 ;

6
Problem 5:
What is the product of the solution of the equation

7  2  x =12 .

Several approaches to solving the given equation are possible.

a) the first way of solution
We start from the definition of absolute value

+ x, for x  0
x   .
 x, for x  0 
- from this it follows that we have to solve two equations

7  2  x =12 .
i) 7  2  ( x)  12
ii) 7  2  ( x)  12

i)
7  2  ( x)  12
7  2  x  12
 2  x  12  7
 2 x  5
 2  x  5 / : ( 2)
2  x 5

2 2
5
x1   ;
2

ii)
( x  5)  2
x  5  2
x  2  5
 x  7 /  (-1)
( x)  (1)  7  (1)
x2  7 ;

- now multiply the calculated values for the solutions of the given equation

 5  5 25
x1  x2           ;
 2  2 4

b) another way of the solution

- rearrange the given equation so that the terms with the unknown x remain on the left side, and the terms with
known quantities remain on the right side

7
 7  2  x  12
 2  x  12  7
 2 x  5
 2  x  5 / : ( 2)
2  x 5
 ;
2 2
- according to the definition of absolute value it follows

+ x, for x  0
x   .
 x, for x  0 
- applying this definition to the obtained solution of the given equation in the form of an absolute value we
get

5
a) (  x)  
2

5
b) ( x)   ;
2
_______________
a)
5
( x)  
2
5
x1   ;
2

b)
5
( x)   / (1)
2
5
( x)  (1)    (1)
2
5
x1   ;
2

- it follows that the product of the solutions of the given equation is equal

 5  5 25
x1  x2           ;
 2  2 4

8
Problem 6:
What is the product of the solution of the equation

5  2  x = 1 .

Several approaches to solving the given equation are possible.

The first way of solution
We start from the definition of absolute value

+ x, for x  0
x   .
 x, for x  0 
- from this it follows that we have to solve two equations

5  2  x = 1 .

i) 5  2  ( x)  1
ii) 5  2  ( x)  1

i)
5  2  ( x)  1
5  2  x  1
+2  x  1  5
+2  x  6
+2  x  6 / : ( 2)
2  x  6

2 2
x1  3 ;

ii)
5  2  ( x)  1
5  2  x  1
 2  x  1  5
 2  x  6
 2  x  6 / : ( 2)
2  x  6

2 2
x2  3 ;

- now multiply the calculated values for the solutions of the given equation

x1  x2   3   3  9 ;

Another way of the solution

- rearrange the given equation so that the terms with the unknown x remain on the left side, and the terms with
known quantities remain on the right side

9
 5  2  x  1
 2  x  1  5
 2  x  6
 2  x  6 / : (2)
2  x 6

2 2
x = 3 ;

- according to the definition of absolute value it follows

+ x, for x  0
x   .
 x, for x  0 
- applying this definition to the obtained solution of the given equation in the form of an absolute value we
get

( x)  (3)  3
x1  3

( x)  (3)  3
x2 =+3 ;
_______________
- it follows that the product of the solutions of the given equation is equal

x1  x2   3   3  9 ;

10
 (15.08.2017.)
Problem 7:
Determine the number of zero points of the function

f ( x)  x  5  x  2 - x  1 .

The zero point of the given function means that the x for which the value of the function is equal to zero is
determined.
We will remember the definition of absolute value

+ x, for x  0
x   .
 x, for x  0 
For each expression with an absolute value label in the given function, we will have two options
i) we start with the option to take for each expression under the sign of the absolute value that it is greater
than zero, i.e.

( x  2), for ( x  2)  0

x2  
( x  2), for ( x  2)  0

( x  5  x  2 ), for ( x  5  x  2 )  0

x 5 x 2  
( x  5  x  2 ), for ( x  5  x  2 )  0


( x  1), for ( x  1)  0

x 1  
( x  1), for ( x  1)  0

To find the zero points of the given function f(x), we must equate that given function to zero and solve the
resulting equation in terms of x.
For the function f(x) given here, we have
f ( x)  0
x  5  x  2  x 1  0
x  5  x  2  x 1

Applying the definition of absolute value

+ x, for x  0
x   .
 x, for x  0 
two solutions arise;
i)
x  5  x  2  x 1

it follows further

11
 +(x  5  x  2 ), for (x  5  x  2 )  0 
x 5 x 2   
(x  5  x  2 ), for (x  5  x  2 )  0 

( x  1), for ( x  1)  0

x 1 =  .
( x  1), for ( x  1)  0
- in this first option we will take expressions for  0 , i.e.

x  5  x  2  x 1
( x  5  x  2 )   ( x  1)
x  5  x  2  x 1
x  x  x  2  1  5
x  2  4

- according to the definition of absolute value it follows

+ x, for x  0
x   .
 x, for x  0 
now we have

( x  2), for ( x  2)  0

x2   .
( x  2), for ( x  2)  0

we now proceed to solve the equation

x2  4

we have two solutions for this equation

a)
x  2  4
 ( x  2)  4
x2  4
x  42
x1  6 .
b)
x  2  4
( x  2)  4
 x  2  4
x  4  2
 x  2 /  (1)
( x)  (1)  (2)  ( 1)
x2  2 .

We check the obtained solutions for the given function f(x)

a) for x1  6

12
 f ( x)  x  5  x  2  x  1
x  5  x  2  x 1  0
(6)  5  (6)  2  (6)  1  0
6  5  6  2  6 1  0
1 4  5  0
1 4  5  0
5 5  0
(+5)  5  0
55  0
00 ;
It follows that x1  6 is the solution of the given equation.

b) for x2  2

f ( x)  x  5  x  2  x  1
x  5  x  2  x 1  0
(2)  5  (2)  2  (2)  1  0
2  5  2  2  2  1  0
7   4   3  0
7  ((4))  ((3))  0
7  4  3  0
3  3  0
(-(-3))  3  0
33  0
00 ;
It follows that x2  2 is the solution of the given equation.

ii) in the second option, we will assume that the expression under the absolute value sign on the left is greater
than or equal to zero, and the expression on the right is less than zero, i.e.

(x  5  x  2  0
( x  1)  0 ;

Let's apply this second assumption to the given problem.

13
 x  5  x  2  x 1
 ( x  5  x  2 )  ( x  1)
x  5  x  2  x 1
x  x  x  2  1  5
2  x  x  2  6
x  2  6  2 x ;

The expression under the sign of the absolute value, ( x  2) , can be greater than or equal to zero or less than
zero, so that according to the definition of the absolute value, two possibilities arise

( x  2), for ( x  2)  0

x2   ;
( x  2), for ( x  2)  0

Let's apply this to the equation obtained above

a)
x  2  6  2 x
 ( x  2)  2  x  6
x  2  2  x  6
x  2  x  6  2
3 x  8 / : 3
3 x 8

3 3
8
x3   ;
3

b)
x  2  6  2 x
( x  2)  2  x  6
 x  2  2  x  6
 x  2  x  6  2
x4  4

We check the obtained solutions for the given function f(x)

8
a) for x3  
3

14
 f ( x)  x  5  x  2  x  1
x  5  x  2  x 1  0

 8  8  8
 5     2     1  0
 3  3  3
8 8 8
 5   2  1  0
3 3 3
8  5  3 8  2  3 8  1 3
  0
3 3 3
8  15 8  6 83
  0
3 3 3
7 2 5
  0
3 3 3
7  2  5
      0
3  3  3
7 2 5
   0
3 3 3
5 5
  0
3 3
 5 5
   0
 3 3
5 5
 0
3 3
00 ;

8
It follows that x3   is the solution of the given equation.
3

b) for x4  4

f ( x)  x  5  x  2  x  1
x  5  x  2  x 1  0
 4   5   4   2   4   1  0
4  5  4  2  4 1  0
1  2  3  0
1  2  3  0
1  3  0
1 3  0
2  0 ;
It follows that x4  4 is not the solution of the given equation.

15
iii) in the third option, we will assume that the expression under the absolute value sign on the left is less than
zero, and the expression on the right is greater than or equal to zero, i.e.

(x  5  x  2  0
( x  1)  0 ;

Let's apply this third assumption to the given problem.

x  5  x  2  x 1
( x  5  x  2 )  ( x  1)
 x  5  x  2  x 1
 x  x  x  2  1  5
 2  x  x  2  6
x  2  6  2  x ;

According to what was already shown in this problem, we can further write
a)
x  2  6  2  x
 ( x  2)  2  x  6
x  2  2 x  6
x  2  x  6  2
 x  4 /  (1)
( x)  (1)  (4)  (1)
x 5  4 ;

b)
x  2  6  2  x
( x  2)  2  x  6
 x  2  2 x  6
 x  2  x  6  2
 3  x  8 / : ( 3)
3  x 8

3 3
8
x6   ;
3

- Solution x5 is equal to solution x4 , i.e.

x5  x4  4 ;

- Solution x6 is equal to solution x3 , i.e.

8
x6  x3   ;
3

iv) in the fourth option, we will assume that the expression under the absolute value sign on the left is less than
zero, and the expression on the right is less than zero, i.e.

(x  5  x  2  0
( x  1)  0 ;

Let's apply this fourth assumption to the given problem.

16
 x  5  x  2  x 1
( x  5  x  2 )  ( x  1) / (1)
( x  5  x  2 )  (1)  ( x  1)  (1)
x  5  x  2  x 1 ;

This form of the equation is equal to the form of the equation from option i), so it follows that the solutions x7
and x8 are equal to the solutions from option i), i.e.

x7  x1  6
x8  x2  2 ;

From all of the above it follows that the given function

f ( x)  x  5  x  2 - x  1 .

has three zero points.

17
 (16.08.2017.)
Problem 8:
Determine the number of zero points of the function

f ( x)  x  5  x  1 .

The zero point of the given function means that the x for which the value of the function is equal to zero is
determined.
We will remember the definition of absolute value

+ x, for x  0
x   .
 x, for x  0 
From this definition of absolute value, we can say that the absolute values in the given problem are equal

( x  5), for ( x  5)  0

x 5   ,
( x  5), for ( x  5)  0

( x  1), for ( x  1)  0

x 1   ;
( x  1), for ( x  1)  0

It follows from the above that four options should be processed

i) For ( x  5)  0 and ( x  1)  0 we have

x  5  x  1 =0 (because we are looking for zero points)

( x  5)  (( x  1))=0
x - 5 - ( x -1)  0
x  5  x 1  0
0  5 1  0
04  0
0  4 (there is no solution) ;
There are no zero points.

ii) For ( x  5)  0 and ( x  1)  0 we have

x  5  x  1 =0 (because we are looking for zero points )

( x  5)  (( x  1))=0
x  5  ( x  1)  0
x  5  x 1  0
2 x  6  0
2 x  6 / : 2
2 x 6

2 2
x1  3 ;

We check whether this solution is the zero point of the given function.

18
 f ( x)  x  5 - x  1
( x  5  x  1) x 3  0
3  5  3 1  0
2  2  0
(  (2))  (2)  0
22  0
00 ;

It follows that x1  3 is the zero point of the given function.

iii) For ( x  5)  0 and ( x  1)  0 we have

x  5  x  1 =0 (because we are looking for zero points)

(( x  5))  (( x  1))=0
 x  5  ( x  1)  0
x  5  x 1  0
2  x  6  0
2  x  6 / : (2)
2  x 6

2 2
x2  3 ;

This zero point x2  3 is equal to the zero point x1  3 .

iv) For ( x  5)  0 and ( x  1)  0 we have

x  5  x  1 =0 (because we are looking for zero points)

(( x  5))  (( x  1))=0
 x  5  ( x  1)  0
x  5  x 1  0
04  0 (there is no solution) ;

It results from the processing of these four options that the given function

f ( x)  x  5  x  1 .

has one zero point x1  3 .

19
Problem 9:
Solve the equation

2  x  x =3 .

Solving the equation means determining the value of the unknown x when the expressions on the left and right
sides are reduced to a form such that the right side is equal to zero..

2 x  x  3
2 x  x 3  0

According to the definition of absolute value

+ x, for x  0
x   .
 x, for x  0 
it follows that two options should be processed;
i) For x  0 we have

2  x  x  3=0
2  x  ( x)  3=0
2  x  x  3=0
x3  0
x1 =+3 ;

ii) For x  0 we have

2  x  x  3=0
2  x  ( x)  3=0
2  x  x  3=0
3 x  3  0
3 x  3 / : 3
3 x 3
  1
3 3
x2 =+1 ;

We perform verification for both solutions;

i) For x1  3 we have

2  x  x  3=0
2  (3)  (3)  3=0
6  3  3=0
66  0
00 ;
It follows that x1  3 is the solution of the given equation;

20
ii) For x2  1 we have

2  x  x  3=0
2  (1)  (1)  3=0
2  1  3=0
24  0
2  0 ;

It follows that x2  1 is not the solution of the given equation;

21
Problem 10:
Solve the equation

x -3 =1 .

To solve the equation means to determine the value of x when all the expressions are brought into the form that
we have zero on one side and some expression on the other side.
We approach the solution by first getting rid of the "external" label of the absolute value.
According to the definition of absolute value
+ x, for x  0
x   .
 x, for x  0 
follow these steps in solving the given problem
If we identify the expression under the "external" label of absolute value with term x from the definition of
absolute value, then we will have

 ( x  3), for ( x  3)  0


x 3    .
( x  3), for ( x  3)  0 
It follows that two options should be processed.

i) the first option for ( x  3)  0 we have

x -3 =1
x -3 -1=0
 ( x  3)  1=0
x  3  1=0
x  4=0
x 4 ;

Again we apply the definition of absolute value

+ x, for x  0
x   .
 x, for x  0 

a) for x  0 we have

x =4
( ( x))=4
x=4
x1 =+4 ;

22
b) for x<0 we have

x =4
(( x))=+4
 x=+4 /  (1)
( x)  (  1)=(+4)  (1)
x  4
x2 =  4 ;

ii) the second option for ( x  3)  0 we have

x -3 =1
x -3 -1=0
( x  3)  1=0
 x  3  1=0
 x  2=0
 x =  2 /  (  1)
( x )  (1)  (2) / (1)
x  2 ;

Again we apply the definition of absolute value

+ x, for x  0
x   .
 x, for x  0 

c) for x  0 we have

x =2
( x)=2
x=2
x3 =+2 ;

d) for x<0 we have

x =2
( x)=+2 /  ( 1)
( x)  (1)=(+2)  (1)
x=  2
x4 =  2 ;

23
We approach the verification of the obtained solutions

i) a) for x1  4 we have

x -3 =1
4 -3 -1=0
(4)  3  1=0
4  3  1=0
1  1=0
(+1)  1  0
11  0
00 ;

x1  4 is the first solution of the given equation.

i) b) for x 2  4 we have

x  3 =1
4  3  1=0
(4)  3  1=0
4  3  1=0
7  1=0
(  7)  1  0
7  1  0
8  0 ;

x 2  4 is not a solution of the given equation.

ii) a) for x3  2 we have

x  3 =1
2  3  1=0
(2)  3  1=0
2  3  1=0
1  1=0
(  1)  1  0
1  1  0
2  0 ;

x3  2 is not a solution of the given equation.

24
ii) b) for x 4  2 we have

x  3 =1
2  3  1=0
(2)  3  1=0
2  3  1=0
5  1=0
(  5)  1  0
5  1  0
6  0 ;

x 4  2 is not a solution of the given equation..

25
26