SOLUTION: Hi there! I am working on an absolute value lesson in my algebra book and there is a section where it says, "Describe and correct the error in solving the absolute value equation."

Question 698602: Hi there! I am working on an absolute value lesson in my algebra book and there is a section where it says, "Describe and correct the error in solving the absolute value equation." The one I'm stuck on looks like this:
|x-6|=-2
x-6=-2 or x-6=2
x=4 or x=8
I have looked at it for a long time and I still don't understand what the error is. You rewrite the original equation as two equations, positive and negative, and then you solve them. It looks correct to me! Could you help me figure out what the error is? I'm sure it's right there in front of me, but for some reason I just can't figure it out.
Thank you!
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I think the reason is, as the problem is written, it shows a negative value equal to an expression derived from inside the absolute brackets. Any value from an absolute has to be positive.
:
The correction could be
|x - 6| = 2
then solve it like you did

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