Question

How do you solve `abs(x - 25)= 17`?

Answer 1

In principle, an absolute equation can have two solutions.

(1)
If `x>=25->x-25>=0` so the equation is the same as:
`x-25=17->x=42`
(2)
If `x<25->x-25<0` but the absolute sign will turn this around:
`25-x=17->x=8`
graph{|x-25| [-28.57, 103.1, -21.2, 44.67]}
Estimate the `y=17` horizontal line, and you see what I mean
(you can zoom in or out in the graph)