Warm Up

Solve.
1. A=lw for w 4. -3v + 6 = 4v – 1

9
2. F  C  32 for C 5. 3(2x – 4) = 4x + 4
5

1
3. A  2 bh for h
 Answers
A
1. w
l
5
2. C  ( F  32)
9
2A
3. h
b
4. v 1
5. x  8
Lesson 3.4 Solving Absolute
Value Equations
1.1.3
 Exploration
 Determine the solution for each equation.

x 4 4, -4

 n 9 9, -9

 c  6 No Solution
 What did you notice?
 Summarize what you noticed from the
previous solutions.

 When a variable is inside an absolute value, there

are two solutions.
 When an absolute value is set equal to a negative

number, there is no solution. (this is important to

remember)
 Can you think of a situation where there would be

one solution? When the absolute value is equal to zero.

  Steps for solving **Need to isolate the absolute
absolute value value expression**
equations. 1) Undo addition or
subtraction outside of
absolute value.
2) Undo multiplication or
division outside of absolute
value.
3) Set expression inside
1. Distribute
absolute value equal to the
2. Combine Like Terms
given value and its opposite.
3. Move Variable to One Side 4) Solve for variable using
4. Undo + or – steps for solving equations.
5. Undo × or ÷
 Examples
 Solving basic 1. x  5  12
absolute value
equations x  5  12 and x  5  12

x  5  12 and x  5  12
5 5 5 5

x  17 x  7
Examples continued
2. 2x  6  4

1, 5

1
3. x4 8
2

-24, 8
 More Examples
 Solving 1. x  1  4  12
absolute value
equations x  1  4  12
when there are 4 4
terms outside x  1  16
the symbols
x  1  16 and x  1  16
x  1  16 and x  1  16
1 1 1 1

x  15 and x  17
Even More Examples
5. 3 x  4  6  10

0, 8/3

6. 3 2 x  4  6  18

-2, 6
 Summary/Reflection
 What is the difference between solving a
regular equation and solving an equation
where the variable is in an absolute value?

 How can you remember that absolute value

equations have two solutions?

Homework
3.4 worksheet