Can someone show me

thetomps

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2005
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59
Can someone show me how to do this problem?

A solution for 2|x - 1| = |x + 2| is x =
 
Chop up the number line into various regions that make sense. Then solve the problem in each of those regions.

This is the hint you need:

IF x >= 0, then |x| = x -- Absolute values don't do anything to positive numbers or to zero.

IF x < 0, then |x| = -x -- Absolute values change the sign of negative numbers.
 
Another way is to square both sides and solve.
4x<SUP>2</SUP>−8x+4=x<SUP>2</SUP>+4x+4.
 
thetomps said:
SO the correct answer would be x=4 right

2(4-1) = (4+2)
How did you get that? Just luck? Are you SURE there are no other solutions? Try out x = 0 and see what happens. Now, ask yourself how you could find ALL the solutions and be SURE you have found them all.
 
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