Your friend says that the absolute value equation ∣3x + 8 ∣ - 9 = - 5 has no solution because the constant on the right side of the equation is negative. Is your friend correct? Explain.

Question

Mathematics

Aimee Webster

20 November, 15:13

Your friend says that the absolute value equation ∣3x + 8 ∣ - 9 = - 5 has no solution because the constant on the right side of the equation is negative. Is your friend correct? Explain.

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Answers (2)

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Paulina Clark · Answer 1

No, ur friend is not correct

| 3x + 8 | - 9 = - 5 ... u have to get the absolute value (and everything in it) on one side of the equal sign, and everything else on the other side. So we have to get that - 9 across the equal sign by adding 9 to both sides

| 3x + 8 } = - 5 + 9

| 3x + 8 | = 4 ... so that number is not negative anymore

now u can set up ur 2 equations and solve for x ... ur 2 equations would be:

3x + 8 = 4 and 3x + 8 = - 4 ... so there will be 2 solutions

* * if that - 9 would not have been there, then ur friend would have been correct

Evelin Rodgers · Answer 2

No, because u add 9 to both sides to leave what's in the absolute value brackets alone so u get l3x+8l=4. Since the sum is positive then it has a solution.