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Course: General Mathematics — Second Secondary
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Curriculum

General Mathematics — Second Secondary

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Solving Equations and Inequalities

General Mathematics — Second Secondary

Solving Equations and Inequalities

Absolute value equations

Absolute value equations

  1. The absolute value |x| measures the distance from zero
  2. so it is never negative. For a positive number a
  3. we use these rules:
Equation Solution
|x| = a, where a > 0 x = a or x = −a
|x| = 0 x = 0
|x| = a, where a < 0 No solution
  • When the absolute value of a linear expression equals a number, write two cases: the expression equals the number, and the expression equals the negative of the number.
  • Solve each case separately.
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