(4.

8)
SOLVING ABSOLUTE
VALUE INEQUALITIES
 Solving Absolute Value
Inequalities
1. ax+b < c
Becomes an “and” problem
Changes to: –c < ax+b < c

2. ax+b > c
Becomes an “or” problem
Changes to: ax+b>c or ax+b<-c
 Ex: Solve & graph.
4 x  9  21
• Becomes an “and” problem
 21  4 x  9  21
+9 +9 +9
 12  4 x  30
4 4 4
 3  x  7.5

-3 7 8
 Solve & graph.
3x  2  3  11
• Get absolute value by itself first.
3x  2  8
• Becomes an “or” problem
3x  2  8 or 3x  2  8
3 x  10 or 3 x  6
1
x  3 or x   2
3

-2 3 4
 Ex: Solve & graph.
1 x  8
• Becomes an “and” problem
 8  1 x  8
-1 -1 -1
9  x  7

-9 7
 Solve & graph.
4  5 x  21
Becomes an “or”
problem
4  5 x  21 or 4  5x  21
5 x  17 or 5 x  25
17 2
x  or x   5 x  3 or x   5
5 5

-5 3 4
 More Practice
|x - 5| < 3
3 x 5  3
2 x 8
2x  3  8
2 8
2 x  3  8 or 2 x  3  8
2 x  5 or 2 x  11
x  2.5 or x  5.5

-5 2 3
THE END