Solve |x − 9| + 5 = 13
Absolute value equation, worked out line by line the way a teacher would write it.
Answer
| Solutions | x = 1, x = 17 |
Step-by-step solution
8 steps-
1 Given\left|{x - 9}\right| + 5 = 13
Solve for x.
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2 Isolate the absolute value\left|{x - 9}\right| = 8
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3 Split into two cases: the expression inside the bars is either 8 or -8
|u| is the distance of u from 0. A distance of 8 can be on either side of 0, so the inside is 8 or the opposite of 8, and each case is solved as its own equation.
x - 9 = 8\quad \text{or} \quad x - 9 = -8 -
4 Case 1x - 9 = 8
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5 Add 9 to both sides
An equation stays true as long as you do the same thing to both sides, like adding the same weight to both pans of a balance. Adding or subtracting the same amount on both sides moves a term to the other side, where it appears with the opposite sign.
x = 17Move the constant terms to the right.
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6 Case 2x - 9 = -8
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7 Add 9 to both sidesx = 1
Move the constant terms to the right.
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8 Check\begin{aligned}x = 1:\quad 13 = 13\quad\checkmark\\ x = 17:\quad 13 = 13\quad\checkmark\end{aligned}
Substituting each solution back makes both sides equal.
Check by substitution
| x | Left side | Right side | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 | 13 | ✓ |
| 17 | 13 | 13 | ✓ |
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