document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=155498>Question 155498</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Please help me solve the following problem straigt from a worksheet:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The equation |x+1|=3 produces two solutions, x=2 and x=-4. For what values of a and b would the equation |x+a|=b produce two solutions that are equal? Explain your reasoning. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #114523 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=vleith><B>vleith(2983)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=vleith><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=114523\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=abs%28x+%2B+a%29+=+b ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"abs%28x+%2B+a%29+=+b\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "So<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+%2B+a+=+b+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+%2B+a+=+b+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+%2B+a+=+-b ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+%2B+a+=+-b\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Thus, the two solutions are<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+b-a ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+b-a\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+-b-a ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+-b-a\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "In order to have the two solutions be the same,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=b+-+a+=+-b+-+a ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"b+-+a+=+-b+-+a\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=b+=+-b ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"b+=+-b\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Only b = 0 satisfies this.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = -a, b = 0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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