Chapter 2

Equations,
Inequalities, and
Problem Solving
Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall.

Chapter Sections
2.1 Linear Equations in One Variable
2.2 An Introduction to Problem Solving
2.3 Formulas and Problem Solving
2.4 Linear Inequalities and Problem Solving
2.5 Sets and Compound Inequalities
2.6 Absolute Value Equations
2.7 Absolute Value Inequalities

Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall.

2.6

Absolute Value
Equations
Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall.

Definition
Solving Equations of the Form |X| = a
If a is a positive number, then X = a is equivalent to x = a or x = a.

Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall.

Example
Solve 6 + 2n = 4.
6 + 2n = 4
2n = 2
n = 1

or
or
or

Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall.

6 + 2n = 4
2n = 10
n = 5

Example
Solve 2 x 6 4

2x 6 4
2 x 10
2 x 10 or 2 x 10
x5
or
x 5

Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall.

Example
Solve

7x 0

W are looking for all numbers whose distance

from 0 is 0 units. The only number is 0. The
solution set is 0.

Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall.

Example
Solve 3z 2 + 8 = 1
3z 2 = 7
No solution.
An absolute value can NEVER be equal to a
negative number.

Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall.

Example
Solve x 3 5 x

x 3 5 x

or

2x 3 5
2x 8
x4

x 3 (5 x )
x 3 5 x
x 3 x 5 x x
3 5 False

The only solution for the original absolute

value equation is 4. The solution set is
{4}.
Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall.