document.write( "Question 62346: Looking for absolute value on both sides:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "5/2 - x = 2 - x/2\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The answer is 1,3 but I can't figure out how to do the problem to arrive at the answer. Any help is greatly appreciated! \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #43147 by joyofmath(189) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
$\"abs%285%2F2+-+x%29+=+abs%282+-+x%2F2%29\"$ .\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The idea here is that if $\"abs%28a%29+=+abs%28b%29\"$ then either $\"a=b\"$ or $\"a=-b\"$ . For example, $\"abs%287%29+=+abs%28-7%29\"$ because $\"7+=+-%28-7%29\"$ .\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So, there are two equations to solve: $\"5%2F2-x+=+2-%28x%2F2%29\"$ and $\"5%2F2-x+=+-%282-%28x%2F2%29%29\"$ .\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Let's solve the first one: $\"5%2F2-x+=+2-%28x%2F2%29\"$ .
\n" ); document.write( "Add x/2 to both sides: $\"5%2F2-x%2F2+=+2\"$ .
\n" ); document.write( "Subtract 2 from both sides: $\"1%2F2-x%2F2=0\"$ .
\n" ); document.write( "Multiply both sides by 2: $\"1-x+=+0\"$ so $\"x=1\"$ . That's the first answer.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Let's solve the second equation: $\"5%2F2-x+=+-%282-%28x%2F2%29%29\"$ .
\n" ); document.write( "First, let's simplify the right side of the equation: $\"5%2F2-x+=+-2%2Bx%2F2\"$ .
\n" ); document.write( "Add 2 to both sides of the equation: $\"9%2F2-x+=+x%2F2\"$ .
\n" ); document.write( "Add x to both sides of the equation: $\"9%2F2+=+3x%2F2\"$ .
\n" ); document.write( "Multiply both sides of the equation by 2: $\"9=3x\"$ sp $\"x=3\"$ which is the 2nd answer. \n" ); document.write( "

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