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

2 Answers
May 20, 2018

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#

May 20, 2018

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#