Chapter 1 | Fundamentals of Mathematics 86

LECTURE-12 MODULUS EQUATIONS

1. To find the absolute value of any real number, first locate the number on the real line.

The absolute value of the number is defined as its distance from the origin.

2. For example, to find the absolute value of 7, locate 7 on the real line and then find its distance from the origin.

Example 12.1
Create a definition for the given absolute value function.
f(x) = | x + 1|
Solution :

Example 12.2
Sketch the graph of the given function on a sheet of graph paper
f(x) = |x – 1|
Solution :

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87 Chapter 1 | Fundamentals of Mathematics
Example 12.3
Use interval notation to describe the domain and range of the given function.
f(x) = –|x – 1| + 5
Solution :

Example 12.4

Solution :

Example 12.5

Solution :

Example 12.6

Solution :

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 Chapter 1 | Fundamentals of Mathematics 88

Example 12.7

Solution :

Example 12.8

Solution :

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89 Chapter 1 | Fundamentals of Mathematics

Example 12.9

Solution :

Example 12.10

Solution :

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 Chapter 1 | Fundamentals of Mathematics 90

Example 12.11
Solve : x |x + 3| + 2 |x + 2| = 0
Solution : Case–I x < –3
–x(x + 3) – 2(x + 2) = 0
x2 + 5x + 4 = 0  x = –1, – 4
 x = –4.  x = –1(reject)
Case–II –3 < x < –2
(x) (x + 3) –2x – 4 = 0
x2 + x – 4 = 0
−1 + 17 −1 − 17
 x= ,
2 2
−1 − 17 −1 + 17
 x= x= (reject)
2 2
Case–III x > –2
x(x + 3) + 2x + 4 = 0
x2 + 5x + 4 = 0
 x = –1, –4.
 x = –1  x = –4(reject)
−1 − 17
Hence x = –4, , –1.
2

Example 12.12
Solve the equation
(i) x2 +7|x| + 10 = 0
(ii) |3x – 2| + x = 11
(iii) |x + 1| + |x – 2| + |x – 5| = 2
Solution : (i) Method 1
x2 + 7|x| + 10 > 0  x  R
Hence x2 + 7|x| + 10 = 0
x
Method 2
x2 = |x|2
|x|2 + 7|x| + 10 = 0
|x|2 + 5|x| + 2|x| + 10 = 0
 |x| = –2, –5. (absurd)
 x
(ii) |3x – 2| + x = 11

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91 Chapter 1 | Fundamentals of Mathematics
Method–1 Here critical point is x = 2/3 so consider two cases:
2
Case–1 –  < x <
3
– (3x – 2) + x = 11
9
x= − permissible
2
2
Case–2  x < 
3
+ 3x – 2 + x = 11
13
 x=
4


final Solution x  − ,
9 13
2 4 
Method–2
|3x – 2| + x = 11  |3x – 2| = 11 – x (3x – 2) = (11 – x)
Taking +ve sign
13
3x – 2 = 11– x  3x + x = 13  x =
4
Taking –ve sign
9
(3x – 2) = –11 + x  3x – x = –11 + 2  x=−
2


Final Solution x  − ,
9 13
2 4 
(iii) |x + 1| + |x – 2| + |x – 5| = 2 Critical point → –1,2,5

Here –1, 2, 5 are three critical points hence four cases

Case–1 –  < x < –1
– (x + 1) – (x – 2) – (x – 5)
4
– 3x + 6 = 2  –3x = 4  x = − (not in the taken interval hence not permissible)
3
Case–2 1  x < 2
(x + 1) – (x – 2) – (x – 5) = 2  x = 6 (not in the taken interval hence not permissible)
Case–3 2  x < 5
(x + 1) + (x – 2) – (x – 5) = 2
 x+1+x–2–x+5=2
 2x – x + 4 = 2
 x = –2 (not in the taken interval hence not permissible)
Case–4 5  x < 
(x + 1) + (x – 2) + (x – 5) = 2
8
 x= (not in the taken interval hence not permissible) Final solution x  .
3

Example 12.13
Find the value of x, |x – 3| + 2 |x + 1| = 4
Solution : Here critical point are 3, –1
Case–I if x  3
|x – 3| + 2|x + 1| = 4
 (x – 3) + 2 (x + 1) = 4
 3x – 1 = 4
4 +1 5
x= = = 1.666 (approximate)
3 3
but here x  3 Hence, there is no value of x In this Interval
Case-II if –1  x < 3
|x – 3| + 2 |x + 1| = 4

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 Chapter 1 | Fundamentals of Mathematics 92
 –(x – 3) + 2 (x + 1) = 4
 –x + 3 + 2x + 2 = 4
x+5=4
 x = –5 + 4 = –1
 x = –1
Case–III if x < –1
|x – 3| + 2 |x + 1| =4
 – x + 3 – 2x – 2 = 4
 –3x + 1 = 4
 –3x = 3
 x = –1
but x < –1, Hence there Is no value of x in this Interval
Taking union of all the three cases final solution is x  {–1}

Example 12.14
|x + 1| – |x| + 3|x – 1| – 2|x – 2| = x + 2
Solution : Here, –1, 0, 1, 2 are four critical points hence five cases

Case–I when x  2
|x + 1| – |x| + 3|x – 1|–2 |x – 2| = x + 2
 x + 1 – x + 3x – 3 – 2x + 4 = x + 2
x+2=x+2
Hence this is as Identity so all the values of this Interval will satisfy the equation
 x  2 x  [2, )
Case–II when 1  x < 2
|x + 1| – |x| + 3 |x –1| –2 |x – 2| = x + 2·
 (x + 1) – x + 3 (x – 1) + 2(x – 2) = x + 2
 x + 1 – x + 3x – 3 + 2x – 4 = x + 2
 5x – 6 = x + 2
 4x = 8
x=2
But 1  x < 2
Hence there ls no value of x in this Interval
Case–III when 0  x < 1
|x + 1| – |x| + 3|x –.1| – 2 |x – 2| = x + 2
 (x + 1) – x + (– 3) (x – 1) – (–2) (x – 2) = x + 2
 x + 1 – x – 3x + 3 + 2x – 4 = x + 2
 –x = x + 2
 –2x = 2
. x = –1 but 0  x < 1
hence, there is no value of x in this interval
Case–IV when –1  x < 0
|x + 1| – |x| + 3|x – 1| – 2|x – 2| = x + 2
 –(x + 1) + x – 3(x – 1) + 2(x – 2) = x + 2
 x + 1 + x – 3x + 3 + 2x – 4 = x + 2
x=x+2
0=2
Hence there is no solution for x
Case–V when x < – 1
|x + 1| – |x| + 2|x – 1| – 2 |x – 1| = x + 2
 –(x + 1) + x – 3(x – 1) + 2 (x – 2) = x + 2
 –x – 1 + x – 3x + 2x – 4 = x + 2
 –x – 2 = x + 2
 –2x = 4
 x = –2
Hence x  {–2}  [2, )

WORKED-OUT PROBLEMS - 12

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93 Chapter 1 | Fundamentals of Mathematics

1. Create a definition for the given absolute value function.

g(x) = |4 – 5x|
Solution :

2. Create a definition for the given absolute value function.

H(x) = |–x–5|
Solution :

3. Create a definition for the given absolute value function.

f(x) = x + |x|
Solution :

4. Sketch the graph of the given function on a sheet of graph paper

g(x) = |2x – 1|
Solution :

5. Sketch the graph of the given function on a sheet of graph paper

h(x) = |1 – 3x|
Solution :

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 Chapter 1 | Fundamentals of Mathematics 94

6. Sketch the graph of the given function on a sheet of graph paper

f(x) = x – |x|
Solution :

7. Use interval notation to describe the domain and range of the given function.
f(x) = |– x|
Solution : The graphs of y = |x| and y = |–x| coincide. The domain is (–, ) and the range is [0, ).

8. Use interval notation to describe the domain and range of the given function.
f(x) = (1/2)|x|
Solution : The domain is (–, ) and the range is [0, ).

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95 Chapter 1 | Fundamentals of Mathematics

9. Use interval notation to describe the domain and range of the given function.
f(x) = |x + 4|
Solution : The domain is (–, ) and the range is [0, ).

10. Use interval notation to describe the domain and range of the given function.
f(x) = |x| + 2
Solution : The domain is (–, ) and the range is [2, ).

11. Use interval notation to describe the domain and range of the given function.
f(x) = |x + 3| + 2
Solution : The domain is (–, ) and the range is [2, ).

12. Use interval notation to describe the domain and range of the given function.
f(x) = –|x – 2|
Solution : The domain is (–, ) and the range is (–, 0].

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 Chapter 1 | Fundamentals of Mathematics 96

13. Use interval notation to describe the domain and range of the given function.
f(x) = –|x| + 4
Solution : The domain is (–, ) and the range is (–, 4].

14. Solve the equation

|x + 2| + 3 = 8
Solution :

15. Solve the equation

3|x – 5| = 6
Solution :

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97 Chapter 1 | Fundamentals of Mathematics

16.

Solution :

17. Solve the equation

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 Chapter 1 | Fundamentals of Mathematics 98
|x| = –2
Solution :

18. Solve the equation

|x| = 3
Solution :

19. For each of the equations, provide a purely algebraic solution without the use of a calculator
|3 – 2x| = –1
Solution : Case 1 : 3 – 2x > 0
3 > 2x
3
x
2
3 – 2x = –1
x=2
Case 2 : 3 – 2x < 0
3< 2x
3
x
2
–(3 – 2x) = –1
3 – 2x = 1
2 = 2x
x=1
No Solution

20. Solve the following equation

(i) |x – 3| = 4
(ii) ||x – 1| + 1|| = 4
(iii) |x| – |x – 2| = 2
Solution : (i) |x – 3| = 4
 (x – 3) = ± 4
x=3±4
 x = 7, –1(these values satisfy the original equation);
Final solution x  {7, –1}
(ii) ||x – 1| + 1| = 4
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99 Chapter 1 | Fundamentals of Mathematics
 |x – 1| + 1 = ±4
 |x – 1| = ±4 – 1
 |x – 1| = 3 – 5
 |x – 1| = 3
x=1±3
 x = 4, –2 (these values satisfy the original equation)
(iii) |x| – |x – 2| = 2
 x, x  0
We know that |x| = 
− x, x  0
(x − 2) x  2
| x − 2 |= 
−(x − 2) x  2
Here x = 0, 2 are two critical points hence there are three intervals.

Case–1 when–  < x < 0

|x|–|x – 2| = 2
 –x + x – 2 = 2
 –2 = 2 it is not possible
Hence x  [2, )
Case–2 when 0  x < 2
|x| – |x – 2| = 2
 x– {–(x – 2)} = 2
x+x–2=2
 2x = 4
 x = 2 not in the taken interval  no solution x  
Case–3 when 2  x < 
|x| – |x – 2| = 2
 x – (x – 2) = 2
x–x+2=2
 2 = 2 it is an identity
Hence all the value in this interval.  x  [2, )
Final solution x  (2, )

21. Solve the equation |x – 3| + |x + 2| – |x – 4| = 3

Solution : |x – 3| + |x + 2| – |x – 4| = 3
x = 3, – 2, 4 are three critical points hence four cases

When x  4
|x – 3| + |x + 2| – |x – 4| = 3
x–3+x+2–x+4=3
x+6–3=3
x+3=3
 x = 0 (no solution)
when 3  x < 4
|x – 3| +· |x + 2| – |x – 4| =3
 (x– 3) + (x + 2) – {–(x – 4)} = 3
x–3+x+2+x–4=3
 3x – 5 = 3
8
x= (no solution)
3
when –2  x < 3
|x – 3| + |x + 2| – |x – 4| = 3
 –(x – 3) + (x + 2) – {–(x – 4)} = 3
 –x – 3 + x + 2 + x – 4 = 3
x+1=3

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 Chapter 1 | Fundamentals of Mathematics 100
x=2
When x < –2
|x – 3| + |x + 2| – |x – 4| = 3
 –(x – 3) + {–(x + 2)} – {–(x – 4)} = 3
 –x + 3 – x – 2 + x – 4 = 3
 –x + 3 – 6 = 3
 –x – 3 = 3
 x = –6
Hence, x  {–6, 2}

22. Solve for x : 2|x + 1| – 2x = |2x – 1| + 1

Solution : Find critical points
x + 1 nnd 2x – 1 = 0
 x = – 1 and x = 0
so critical points are x = 0 and x = – 1
Consider following cases :
x  –1 ….(I)
2–(x + l) – 2x = –(2x – 1) + 1
2–x – l – 2x = – 2x + 2
 2–x – 1 = 2
 –x – 1= 1
 x = –2
As x = –2 satisfies (I), one solution is x = –2
–1 < x  0 ….(II)
2x + 1 – 2x = –(2x – 1) + 1
 2x + 1 = 2
x+1=1
x=0
As x = 0 satisfies (II), second solution is x = 0
x>0 ….(III)
2x + 1 – 2x = (2x –1) + 1
 2x + 1 = 2 x + 1
 identity in x, i.e. true for all x  R
On combining x  R with (III), we get :
x>0
Now combining all cases, we have the final solution as :
x  0 and x = –2

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