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Example Question #11 : Understanding Absolute Values
What is the sum of the two solutions to the equation ?
Possible Answers:
-5
-3
-1
2
Correct answer:
-3
Explanation:
To solve an equation with an absolute value, recognize that there are two things that would make an absolute value equal 5: the inside of the absolute value could equal 5, or it could equal -5. So your job is to solve for both possibilities:
Possibility 1:
You can then subtract 3 from both sides to get:
And divide both sides by 2 to finish:
Possibility 2:
Subtract 3 from both sides to get:
Divide both sides by 2:
Your two solutions are 1 and -4. Since the question wants the sum of the two answers, you can add them together to get your answer, -3.
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