Question

How do you solve `abs(k-5)=4`?

Answer 1

Given: `abs(k-5)=4`

You can break the above equation into two equations without the absolute value function, one where the right side is positive, and the other where the right side is negative:

`k-5 = 4 and k - 5 = -4`

Add 5 to both sides of both equations:

`k = 9 and k = 1`

Check `k =9`

`|9 - 5| = 4`

`|4| = 4`

`4 = 4`

Check k = 1:

`|1-5| = 4`

`|-4| = 4`

`4 = 4`

Both values check.