document.write( "Question 175504: The highest elevation in North America is 20,320 feet above sea level at mount McKinley. The lowest elevation is 282 feet below sea level in Death valley. Find an absolute value equation that has the highest and lowest elevations in North America as its solution. \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #130820 by Edwin McCravy(20055) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!

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document.write( "Let the absolute value equation be this:\r\n" );
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document.write( "|x + a| = b  (where b is a non-negative number)\r\n" );
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document.write( "Then the two equations resulting from this are:\r\n" );
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document.write( "x + a = b,    x + a = -b\r\n" );
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document.write( "Let's substitute 20320 for x in the first equation\r\n" );
document.write( "and -282 in the second equation:\r\n" );
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document.write( "20320 + a = b    -282 + a = b\r\n" );
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document.write( "So we have this system of euations:\r\n" );
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document.write( "or we can write it better this way:\r\n" );
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document.write( "Can you solve that system, either by substitution\r\n" );
document.write( "or elimination?  If not post again\r\n" );
document.write( "asking how.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Solution:  a = - 10019,  b = 10301\r\n" );
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document.write( "So the equation\r\n" );
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document.write( "|x + a| = b\r\n" );
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document.write( "becomes:\r\n" );
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document.write( "|x - 10019| = 10301  \r\n" );
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document.write( "Edwin

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