document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1044831>Question 1044831</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Question 1044755:  Question 1044751: hello,<BR>\n" );
document.write( " why does |2x-3| + 4 =2 have no solution. <BR>\n" );
document.write( " please show steps in coming to that.<BR>\n" );
document.write( " thanks <BR>\n" );
document.write( " Answer by MaxWong(13) About Me (Show Source): <BR>\n" );
document.write( " You can put this solution on YOUR website!<BR>\n" );
document.write( " |2x-3|+4=2<BR>\n" );
document.write( " |2x-3|=-2<BR>\n" );
document.write( " An absolute value of a number, no matter positivity or negativity, could not be a negative number. Therefore no solution. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " o.k. thanks, but now why does |x-7|= 12 have the set {19,-5} as a solution. clearly -5 is a negative number.<BR>\n" );
document.write( " what am I missing here??<BR>\n" );
document.write( " thanks  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Answer by Boreal(3362) About Me  (Show Source): <BR>\n" );
document.write( "You can put this solution on YOUR website!<BR>\n" );
document.write( " |x-7|=12<BR>\n" );
document.write( " x-7=12; x=19<BR>\n" );
document.write( " (x-7)=-12; x=-5<BR>\n" );
document.write( " The reason it works is x is negative but |(x-7)| is |(-12)| which is 12.<BR>\n" );
document.write( " The absolute value of something can't be negative BUT the absolute value of a negative number is positive and exists.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Thanks for the reply.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So just to be sure, you're saying x and another number inside the hash marks can both be negative, but x by itself, even if in hash marks, cant (be followed by) equal a negative number?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "thank you.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #660228 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Boreal><B>Boreal(15235)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Boreal><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=Boreal><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=660228\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> You can put anything you want in absolute value brackets, including negative numbers. Yes.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "But the absolute value of anything cannot be a negative number.  Yes.  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "|-x|=2  No problem. x=-2 and x=2.  Both of those become positive in the brackets.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "|x|=-2 No.  No absolute value of anything can be negative by definition.  No matter what goes in the brackets, it cannot come out negative. </SPAN>\n" );
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