document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=668572>Question 668572</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> -5 I 6a + 2 I = -15\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I = absolute valu sign\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I was taught to drop the absolute value sign, set up two equations-- DISABLED_event_one=  to -15 and  DISABLED_event_one=  to 15 and then solve for a.  So for this problem, I wasn't sure if I should drop the absolute value sign and then it would be -5 x 6a + 2 = -15 and -5 x 6a + 2 = 15 OR if I should first distribute the -5 as if the absolute value signs were parentheses.  Thanks so much for your help. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #415683 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=415683\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"+2\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Don't do anything with the absolute value quantity until you get rid of the coefficient outside of it.  Further, absolute value bars are NOT parentheses, so you can't just willy-nilly distribute across them.  The only thing left is do divide both sides by the coefficient outside.  THEN you can drop the bars and make two equations.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 6a\ +\ 2\ =\ 3\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "or\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 6a\ +\ 2\ =\ -3\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "By the way: Capital Is don't make good absolute value bars.  Hold the shift key and type the backslash key (the one above the Enter key).  That pipe symbol -- | -- makes a perfect absolute value bar.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "For more on rendering math into plain text, see:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<a  rel=nofollow HREF=\"http://www.purplemath.com/modules/mathtext.htm\">Formatting Math</a>\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" );
document.write( "My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it<BR>\n" );
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