SECTION 1-4:
SOLVING ABSOLUTE VALUE EQUATIONS
Absolute Value: the distance a number is from zero on a number line. (Since its a
distance, it always represents a positive number.)
1
Example 1:
Evaluate if x = 4.
Answer
4.7
2
S
K
P
I
3
Since what's inside an absolute value may be positive
OR negative before we perform the operation: ALL
ABSOLUTE VALUE EQUATIONS MUST BE SPLIT
INTO 2 PARTS!!
Example 2: Solve and check.
4
5
We must always check our answers because proper procedures may sometimes lead to incorrect answers. These answers are called extraneous solutions.
Example 3:
Answer
Solve and be sure to check
for extraneous solutions.
Answer
11
∅
6
7
8