SOLVING LINEAR ABSOLUTE

VALUE INEQUALITIES
REVIEW!
The absolute value of x, written as ,
represent the distance between x and
0 on a number line.

The equation has two solutions, x=a

and x=-a.
RULES IN SOLVING LINEAR ABSOLUTE
VALUE INEQUALITES (ex. )
1. Isolate the absolute value.
2. Identify what the absolute value inequality is set “equal” to…

a. If the absolute value is less than zero, there is NO SOLUTION.

b. If the absolute value is less than or equal to zero, there is one

solution. Solve by making it equal to zero.

c. If the absolute value is greater than or equal to zero, the solution

is ALL REAL NUMBERS .

d. If the absolute value is greater than zero, the solution is all real
numbers except for the value which makes it equal to zero.
e. If the absolute value is less than/less than or equal to a negative
number, there is NO SOLUTION.

f. If the absolute value is greater than/greater than or equal to a

negative number, the solution is ALL REAL NUMBERS.

g. If the absolute value is less than/less than or equal to a positive

number,

h. If the absolute value is greater than/greater than or equal to a

positive number,
Examples:
−3+| 𝑥+1|≤ −3 2. 3.

|𝑥 +1|≤ 0 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟 : 𝑁𝑂 𝑆𝑂𝐿𝑈𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁

𝑥 +1= 0
𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟 : 𝑥=−1
4.

2|𝑥 − 9|> 0
|𝑥 − 9|> 0
𝑥 −9 ≠ 0
Examples:
|3 𝑥+ 4|+5 ≤ 3 2.

|3 𝑥 + 4|≤ − 2
𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟 : 𝑁𝑂 𝑆𝑂𝐿𝑈𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁

3.

|3 𝑥 + 9|<18
−18< 3 𝑥 +9< 18
− 27 <3 𝑥< 9
− 9 < 𝑥 <3