# How do you solve |- 4+ 5x | = 15?

Jan 6, 2017

See full solution process below in the Explanation

#### Explanation:

Because this equation contains an absolute value function we need to compute two different solutions.

Because the absolute value function takes and negative or positive term and converts it to a positive term we must solve the term within the absolute value for both the negative positive form of the equation.

Solution 1)

$- 4 + 5 x = - 15$

$- 4 + \textcolor{red}{4} + 5 x = - 15 + \textcolor{red}{4}$

$0 + 5 x = - 11$

$5 x = - 11$

$\frac{5 x}{\textcolor{red}{5}} = \frac{- 11}{\textcolor{red}{5}}$

$\frac{\textcolor{red}{\cancel{\textcolor{b l a c k}{5}}} x}{\cancel{\textcolor{red}{5}}} = - \frac{11}{\textcolor{red}{5}}$

$x = - \frac{11}{\textcolor{red}{5}}$ or $- 2.2$

Solution 2)

$- 4 + 5 x = 15$

$- 4 + \textcolor{red}{4} + 5 x = 15 + \textcolor{red}{4}$

$0 + 5 x = 19$

$5 x = 19$

$\frac{5 x}{\textcolor{red}{5}} = \frac{19}{\textcolor{red}{5}}$

$\frac{\textcolor{red}{\cancel{\textcolor{b l a c k}{5}}} x}{\cancel{\textcolor{red}{5}}} = \frac{19}{\textcolor{red}{5}}$

$x = \frac{19}{\textcolor{red}{5}}$ or $3.8$