SOLUTION: The highest elevation in North America is 20,320 feet above sea level at mount McKinley. The lowest elevation is 282 feet below sea level in Death valley. Find an absolute value eq

Let the absolute value equation be this:

|x + a| = b  (where b is a non-negative number)

Then the two equations resulting from this are:

x + a = b,    x + a = -b

Let's substitute 20320 for x in the first equation
and -282 in the second equation:

20320 + a = b    -282 + a = b

So we have this system of euations:



or we can write it better this way:



Can you solve that system, either by substitution
or elimination?  If not post again
asking how.

Solution:  a = - 10019,  b = 10301

So the equation

|x + a| = b

becomes:

|x - 10019| = 10301  

Edwin