document.write( "Question 211557: the equation |x| = -a where A is a positive interger, what can be said about the solution? how would you modify the value of A so that you would have a solution to |x| = -a of +- a? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #159848 by jim_thompson5910(35256) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
There is no solution to $\"abs%28x%29=-a\"$ where $\"a%3E0\"$ since $\"abs%28x%29\"$ is ALWAYS nonnegative (ie not negative).\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "In order to make $\"abs%28x%29=-a\"$ have the solutions of $\"x=-a\"$ or $\"x=a\"$ , you need to force 'a' to be negative. So $\"abs%28x%29=-a\"$ has the solutions of $\"x=-a\"$ or $\"x=a\"$ when $\"a%3C0\"$ .\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Ex: $\"abs%28x%29=-%28-5%29\"$ has the solutions $\"x=-%28-5%29\"$ and $\"x=-5\"$ . If you plug in either solution, you get\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " $\"abs%28-%28-5%29%29=-%28-5%29\"$ ---> $\"abs%285%29=5\"$ ---> $\"5=5\"$ \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " $\"abs%28-5%29=-%28-5%29\"$ ---> $\"abs%28-5%29=5\"$ ---> $\"5=5\"$ \n" ); document.write( "

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