document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1208247>Question 1208247</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> |x+4|+2|x+4|+4|x+4|+5=19\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Hi tutor<BR>\n" );
document.write( "I am struggling in my algebra class, particularly with absolute value. Would you please take me step by step through the process of how I would solve it? </SPAN>\n" );
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document.write( "|x+4|+2|x+4|+4|x+4|+5=19<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "7|x+4|+5=19<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "7|x+4|=14<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "|x+4|=14/7=2<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The other responses you have received use formal algebra to solve this absolute value equation to find the two solutions.  Since you are struggling with this in an algebra class, that is probably the kind of solution you want.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "But note that for many absolute value equations like this, another way to find the solutions is to interpret \"|x-a|=b\" as meaning the difference between x and a is b.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Our absolute value equation is<BR>\n" );
document.write( "|x+4| = 2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "or<BR>\n" );
document.write( "|x-(-4)| = 2<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "So the two solutions are the two numbers whose difference between x and -4 is 2 -- i.e., the two numbers that are 2 units from -4 on a number line.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "That's easy -- 2 units either side of -4 on a number line are -4-2 = -6 and -4+2 = -2.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "ANSWERS: -6 and -2<br><BR>\n" );
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