Question

How do you solve `-3|p|=12`?

Answer 1

Dividing by `-3` we get `|p|=-4` since `|p|>=0` so we have no solutions.

Explanation:

We need that `|x|=x` if `x>=0` and `|x|=-x` if `x<0`

Answer 2

There is a problem with this!

See the alternative

Explanation:

The `|p|` always ends up positive. No matter what value `p` takes. Thus we have `(-3)` multiplied by some positive value. The consequence of this is that the left side will always be negative.

We can not have: `"NEGATIVE = POSITIVE"`
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`color(blue)(" HOWEVER ")`

If the question was meant to be:

`-3|p|=-12` it will work

Divide both sides by (-3)

`|p|=(-12)/(-3) = +4`

`|+-4|=4`

`p=+-4`