Question

How do you solve `|x - 10| = 20`?

Answer 1

`x=30" or " x=-10`

Explanation:

The `color(blue)"absolute value"` is always positive. This is because it gives a measure of how far a value is from zero, irrespective of it's sign.

`"That is " |-4|=|4|=4`

`rArr|x-10|=20" has 2 solutions"`

`x-10=20color(red)" or " -(x-10)=20`

`• x-10=20rArrx=30color(red)" or"`

`•-x+10=20rArr-x=10rArrx=-10`

`color(blue)"As a check"`

`|30-10|=|20|=20" and " |-10-10|=|-20|=20`