document.write( "Question 7779: This is a great site for help. I have worked my solution for the absolute value below but I would like to know if I am addressing it correctly.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Could you please solve the absolute value equation and explain each step for my reference:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "| a – 6 | = | 6 – a |\r
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Algebra.Com's Answer #4291 by prince_abubu(198)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
It looks like you have to solve 4 different equations for this one, since both sides of the equation contain absolute value quantities.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Case 1: a - 6 = 6 - a\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "When you combine like terms across the equals sign, you'll end up with 2a = 12, and finally, a = 6.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "Case 2: a - 6 = a - 6\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Both sides of the equals sign look exactly alike. In this case, you can pretty much choose whatever value you want for a and the equality will still hold true.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "Case 3: 6 - a = 6 - a\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Same as case 2, except it's 6 - a instead of a - 6. You can still pretty much pick any a you want and both sides will be equal.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "Case 4: 6 - a = a - 6\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If you try to solve this, eventually, a = 6.
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Cases 1 and 4 showed that a = 6, but cases 2 and 3 show that a can equal anything. Which ones are right then? What is the ultimate answer? Since \"a can be anything\" does include that a can equal 6, then by all means, a can be any number you want it to be. Try plugging in anything in the original equation will result in equal sides. Although one of may turn out a negative of the other, the absolute value signs guarantee that the negative sign will be \"thrown away\", thus both sides will be equal.
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