How do you solve abs( x+5) = 2x+3 and find any extraneous solutions?

1 Answer
Jul 12, 2016

2 and an extraneous solution, -8/3.

Explanation:

|x+5|=2x+3 is the combined equation for the pair

x+5=2x+3, when x>=-5 and

-(x+5)=2x+3, when x<=-5 and

So, we get solutions,

x=2>-5 and

x=-8/3 not <-5,

respectively.

The second is an extraneous (as it is notnot a) solution.