document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=233033>Question 233033</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 3 absolute value x - 12= 18. DO you divide 3 first? or do you add 12 first? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #172076 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=solver91311><B>solver91311(24713)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=solver91311><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/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=solver91311><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=172076\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <font face=\"Garamond\" size=\"+2\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "If you mean:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 3|x|\ -\ 12\ =\ 18\">,\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Then it really doesn't matter.  Divide by 3:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ |x|\ -\ 4\ =\ 6\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Then add 4:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "or\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Add 12:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 3|x|\ =\ 30\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Divide by 3:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Same thing.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "On the other hand, if you meant:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 3|x\ -\ 12|\ =\ 18\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Then you need to divide by 3 first, then apply the definition of absolute value, and then add 12 in each of the two resulting equations.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "John<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE e^{i\pi} + 1 = 0\"><BR>\n" );
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