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The simplest possible equation is
    |x - 2| = 8.
Notice that the number 2 is exactly half-way between the points " -6 "  and  " 10 " on the number line: 
it is a midpoint, or a bisector of the segment  [-6,10].
The number " 8 " in the right side of the equation is the distance from midpoint " 2 " to endpoints.
Notice that 8 is exactly half of the length of the segment  [-6,10], which (the length) is 16 units.
The equation says:  the distance from the point  " x "  to the  point " 2 "  is equal to 8.
This equation has exactly two solutions  x= -6  and  x= 10, as it is required.
If next time you will get similar problem, do the same steps to get the answer.