Question 150824: Solve |-10x + 70| = |8x - 74|
I really have no idea as to how to go about starting this problem.... Please help!
Found 3 solutions by Fombitz, josmiceli, ankor@dixie-net.com: Answer by Fombitz(32388) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! 
Absolute value problems are typically two problems in one (positive and negtive solution).
That's because if x>0 and if x<0.
With an absolute value sign on each side, it now becomes 4 equations to solve.\
1. Positive=Positive
2. Positive=Negative
3. Negative=Positive
4. Negative=Negative
Luckily, if you look at the equations, 1 and 4 are the same, and 2 and 3 are the same.
That is, if I multiply both sides of 1 by (-1), I get 4, and the same for 2 and 3.
So you really only have to solve two equations, we'll call them A and B.
A.
B.
Let's start with A,
A.


and then B,
B.



Answer by josmiceli(19441) (Show Source): Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Solve |-10x + 70| = |8x - 74|
:
Case 1:
-10x + 70 = +|8x - 74|
-10x + 70 = 8x - 74
-10x - 8x = -74 - 70
-18x = -144
x = 
x = +8
;
Case 2:
-10x + 70 = -|8x - 74|
-10x + 70 = -(8x - 74)
-10x + 70 = -8x + 74
-10x + 8x = 74 - 70
-2x = +4
x = 
x = -2
:
Prove that this is true by substituting both values in the original equation
x=8)
|-10(8) + 70| = |8(8) - 74|
|-80 + 70| = |64 - 74|
|-10| = |-10|
+10 = +10
:
x=-2
|-10(-2) + 70| = |8(-2) - 74|
|+20 + 70| = |-16 - 74|
|+90| = |-90|
+90 = +90
:
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