# How do you solve the inequality abs(3-x)>5?

Jun 30, 2017

See a solution process below:

#### Explanation:

The absolute value function takes any negative or positive term and transforms it to its positive form. Therefore, we must solve the term within the absolute value function for both its negative and positive equivalent.

$- 5 > 3 - x > 5$

Next, subtract $\textcolor{red}{3}$ from each segment of the system of inequalities to isolate the $x$ term while keeping the system balanced:

$- \textcolor{red}{3} - 5 > - \textcolor{red}{3} + 3 - x > - \textcolor{red}{3} + 5$

$- 8 > 0 - x > 2$

$- 8 > - x > 2$

Now, multiply each segment by $\textcolor{b l u e}{- 1}$ to solve for $x$ while keeping the system balanced. However, because we are multiplying or dividing inequalities by a negative number we need to reverse the inequality operators:

$\textcolor{b l u e}{- 1} \times - 8 \textcolor{red}{<} \textcolor{b l u e}{- 1} \times - x \textcolor{red}{<} \textcolor{b l u e}{- 1} \times 2$

$8 \textcolor{red}{<} x \textcolor{red}{<} - 2$

Or

$x < - 2$ and $x > 8$

Or, in interval notation:

$\left(- \infty , - 2\right)$ and $\left(8 , + \infty\right)$