Explain why the equation | x | = √x² has infinitely many solutions.
Table of contents
- 0. Review of Algebra4h 18m
- 1. Equations & Inequalities3h 18m
- 2. Graphs of Equations1h 43m
- 3. Functions2h 17m
- 4. Polynomial Functions1h 44m
- 5. Rational Functions1h 23m
- 6. Exponential & Logarithmic Functions2h 28m
- 7. Systems of Equations & Matrices4h 5m
- 8. Conic Sections2h 23m
- 9. Sequences, Series, & Induction1h 22m
- 10. Combinatorics & Probability1h 45m
1. Equations & Inequalities
Linear Inequalities
Problem 45
Textbook Question
Solve each equation or inequality. |6 - 2x | + 1 = 3
Verified step by step guidance1
Start by isolating the absolute value expression. Subtract 1 from both sides of the equation to get: \(|6 - 2x| = 3 - 1\).
Simplify the right side to have: \(|6 - 2x| = 2\).
Recall that if \(|A| = B\), then \(A = B\) or \(A = -B\). Apply this to get two separate equations: \$6 - 2x = 2\( and \)6 - 2x = -2$.
Solve each equation separately. For \$6 - 2x = 2\(, subtract 6 from both sides and then divide by -2 to isolate \)x\(. For \)6 - 2x = -2$, do the same: subtract 6 and divide by -2.
Write the solutions for \(x\) from both equations. These values are the solutions to the original absolute value equation.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Absolute Value Definition
The absolute value of a number represents its distance from zero on the number line, always as a non-negative value. For an expression |A| = B, it means A = B or A = -B, provided B ≥ 0. Understanding this helps in splitting the equation into two separate cases to solve.
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Solving Linear Equations
Linear equations involve variables raised only to the first power and can be solved by isolating the variable using inverse operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. After splitting the absolute value equation, each resulting linear equation is solved separately.
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Checking for Extraneous Solutions
When solving absolute value equations, some solutions may not satisfy the original equation due to the definition of absolute value. It is important to substitute solutions back into the original equation to verify their validity and discard any extraneous solutions.
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