Name:

Date:
Period:
Topic: Solving Absolute Value Equations & Inequalities
Essential Question: What is the process needed to solve
absolute value equations and inequalities?

Warm-Up:
Describe the similarities and differences between
equations and inequalities.
Home-Learning #2 Review
Quiz #7:
 Recall :
Absolute value | x | : is the distance
between x and 0. If | x | = 8, then
– 8 and 8 is a solution of the
equation ; or | x |  8, then any
number between 8 and 8 is a
solution of the inequality.
 Absolute Value (of x)
• Symbol lxl
• The distance x is from 0 on the number line.
• Always positive
• Ex: l-3l=3

-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2

Recall:
You can solve some absolute-value
equations using mental math. For
instance, you learned that the equation
| x | 3 has two solutions: 3 and 3.
To solve absolute-value equations, you
can use the fact that the expression inside
the absolute value symbols can be either
positive or negative.
 Solving an Absolute-Value Equation:
Solve | x  2 |  5 Solve | 2x  7 |  5  4
 Answer ::
Solving an Absolute-Value Equation
Solve | x  2 |  5

The expression x  2 can be equal to 5 or 5.

x  2 IS POSITIVE x  2 IS NEGATIVE

|x2|5 |x2|5
x  2  5 x  2  5

x7 x  3

The equation has two solutions: 7 and –3.

CHECK |72||5|5 | 3  2 |  | 5 |  5
 Answer ::
Solve | 2x  7 |  5  4
SOLUTION
Isolate the absolute value expression on one side of
the equation.
2x  7 IS POSITIVE 2x  7 IS NEGATIVE

| 2x  7 |  5  4 | 2x  7 |  5  4

| 2x  7 |  9 | 2x  7 |  9

2x  7  +9 2x  77  
99
2x
2x  16 2x  2
x8 x  1
TWO SOLUTIONS x  1
Solve the following Absolute-Value Equation:

Practice:

1) Solve 6x-3 = 15

2) Solve 2x + 7 -3 = 8
 Answer ::

1) Solve 6x-3 = 15
6x-3 = 15 or 6x-3 = -15
6x = 18 or 6x = -12
x = 3 or x = -2

* Plug in answers to check your solutions!

 Answer ::
2) Solve 2x + 7 -3 = 8
Get the abs. value part by itself first!
2x+7 = 11
Now split into 2 parts.
2x+7 = 11 or 2x+7 = -11
2x = 4 or 2x = -18
x = 2 or x = -9
Check the solutions.
 ***Important NOTE***

3 2x + 9 +12 = 10
- 12 - 12

n 3 2x + 9 = - 2
ti o
ol u 3 3
S
No 2x + 9 = - 2
3
What about this absolute value equation? 3x – 6 – 5 = – 7
 i n g s
p h l i ti e
G r a u a
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i n g e I
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S te V
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s
Ab
 Solving an Absolute Value Inequality:
● Step 1: Rewrite the inequality as a conjunction or a
disjunction.
● If you have a  or  you are working with a
conjunction or an ‘and’ statement.
Remember: “Less thand”

● If you have a  or  you are working with a

disjunction or an ‘or’ statement.
Remember: “Greator”
● Step 2: In the second equation you must negate the
right hand side and reverse the direction of the
inequality sign.
● Solve as a compound inequality.
 Ex: “and” inequality
4 x  9  21
• Becomes an “and” problem
Positive Negative
4x – 9 ≤ 21 4x – 9 ≥ -21
+9 +9 +9 +9
4x ≤ 30 4x ≥ -12
4 4 4 4
x ≤ 7.5 x ≥ -3

-3 7 8
This is an ‘or’ In the 2nd
statement.
(Greator).
Ex: “or” inequality inequality, reverse
the inequality sign
and negate the
|2x + 1| > 7 right side value.

2x + 1 > 7 or 2x + 1 < - 7
–1 -1 –1 -1
2x > 6 2x < - 8
2 2 2 2
x>3

-4 3
Solving Absolute Value Inequalities:
Solve | x  4 | < 3 and graph the solution.

Solve | 2x  1 | 3  6 and graph the solution.

 Answer ::
Solve | x  4 | < 3
x  4 IS POSITIVE x  4 IS NEGATIVE

|x4 |3 |x4 |3

Reverse
x  4  3 x  4 3
inequality
x7 x1 symbol.

The solution is all real numbers greater than 1 and less than 7.

This can be written as 1  x  7.

 Answer ::
Solve | 2x  1 | 3  6 and graph the
solution.
2x + 1 IS POSITIVE 2x + 1 IS NEGATIVE

| 2x  1 |  3  6 | 2x  1 | 3  6 Reverse
inequality
| 2x  1 |  9 | 2x  1 |  9 symbol.

2x  1  +9 2x  1  9

2x  8 2x  10

x4 x  5
The solution is all real numbers greater than or equal
to 4 or less than or equal to  5. This can be written as the
compound inequality x   5 or x  4.

6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
 Solve and graph the following
Absolute-Value Inequalities:
3) 3 x  2  3  11

4) |x -5| < 3
 Solve & graph.
Answer ::
3) 3x  2  3  11
• Get absolute value by itself first.
3x  2  8
• Becomes an “or” problem
3x  2  8 or 3x  2  8
3 x  10 or 3 x  6
10
x or x  2
3

-2 3 4
 Answer ::
This is an ‘and’ statement.
4) |x -5|< 3 (Less thand).

x -5< 3 and x -5< 3 Rewrite.

x -5< 3 and x -5> -3 In the 2nd inequality, reverse the

inequality sign and negate the
right side value.
x < 8 and x > 2 Solve each inequality.
2<x<8
Graph the solution.

2 8
 Solve and Graph
5) 4m - 5 > 7 or 4m - 5 < - 9

6) 3 < x - 2 < 7

7) |y – 3| > 1

8)|p + 2| + 4 < 10

9)|3t - 2| + 6 = 2
 Home-Learning #3:
• Page 211 - 212 (18, 26,36, 40, 64)