How do you solve #5=|2x— 4|#?

1 Answer
Feb 19, 2016

#{-1/2 , 9/2}#

Explanation:

Note: Whenever you have an absolute value equation, there is a possibility of 2 solutions.

Because, #|x| = -x " " "or" " " x#

Given : #5= |2x-4|#

Step 1: Remove the absolute value sign, we will have TWO equation like this

a) #5 = 2x -4 " " " " "or" " " " #b) #-5 = 2x-4#

Step 2: Solve each equation like this

a) #" " 5 " = 2x -4#

#+4 " " +4#
#------#

#9 " " = 2x#

#9/2 = (2x)/2#
#x= 9/2#

Try to solve for (b), and you should get #x = -1/2#

Answer: #x = -1/2 ,9/2#