Question 211444:  |5x+2| - 10 = -3 and |5x+2| - 10 <= -3  
I have to explain the difference in the answers. I was able to get with the first equation:
 
5x+2=7        OR       -5x-2=7 
5x=5          OR       -5x=9 
x=1           OR         x=-9/5
 
I am not sure if I am even on the right track here. I am not sure on the second problem if I solve it the same way with the greater than/equal to sign.  
 Answer by Theo(13342)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! ----- 
|5x+2| - 10 = -3 is your first equation (I think). 
Add 3 to both sides of this equation to get: 
|5x+2| = -3 + 10 
This becomes: 
|5x+2| = 7 
By the basic definition of absolute values, this means that: 
(5x+2) = 7 if x >= 0 
or: 
-(5x+2) = 7 if x <= 0 
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multiply both sides of the equation -(5x+2) = 7 by -1 and you get: 
(5x+2) = -7 
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your possible solutions become: 
(5x+2) = 7 if x >= 0 
or: 
(5x+2) = -7 if x < 0 
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solve 5x+2 = 7 to get: 
5x = 5 
x = 1 
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solve 5x+2 = -7 to get: 
5x = -9 
x = -9/5 
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your solutions are: 
x = 1 
or: 
x = -9/5 
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to confirm these answers are correct, you substitute them in the original equation to see if that equation is true. 
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your original equation is: 
|5x+2|-10=-3 
substitute 1 for x to get: 
|5+2| - 10 = -3 
this becomes: 
|7|-10 = -3 which becomes 7-10 = -3 which becomes -3 = -3 which is true. 
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substitute -9/5 for x in the original equation to get: 
|5*-9/5 + 2| - 10 = -3 
this becomes: 
|-9 + 2| - 10 = -3 
this becomes |-7| - 10 = -3 which becomes 7 - 10 = -3 which becomes -3 = -3 which is also true. 
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your answers for the first equation of |5x+2|-10=-3 are good. 
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Your second equation to solve is: 
|5x+2| - 10 <= -3  
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This is essentially the same equation except now you are dealing with smaller than or equal to rather than just equal to. 
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you solve it the same way except you may see a reversal of signs as you work your way through it. 
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add 10 to both sides of this equation to get: 
|5x+2| <= -3 + 10 which becomes: 
|5x+2| <= 7 
By the basic definition of absolute value, this equation becomes: 
(5x+2) <= 7 if x is greater than or equal to 0 
or: 
-(5x+2) <= 7 if x is less than 0. 
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multiply both sides of -(5x+2) <= 7 by -1 to get: 
(5x+2) >= -7 
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Note the reversal of signs. 
Multiply both sides of an inequality by -1 reverses the inequality. 
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your possible solutions are now: 
(5x+2) <= 7 
and: 
(5x+2) >= -7 
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Note the use of AND rather than OR. 
More on this later. 
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subtract 2 from both sides of (5x+2) <= 7 to get: 
5x <= 5 
divide both sides by 5 to get: 
x <= 1 
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subtract 2 from both sides of (5x+2) >= -7 to get: 
5x >= -9 
divide both sides by 5 to get: 
x >= -9/5 
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your possible solutions are x <= 1 AND x >= -9/5 
Note the use of AND rather than OR 
Your answer has to be BETWEEN -9/5 and 1 which requires the use of AND rather than OR. 
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These solutions can be written as: 
-9/5 <= x <= 1 
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The difference in the answers is caused by the one equation being equal to only and the other equation being equal to or less than. 
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In the first equation, your answer is a or b only. 
In the second equation, your answer is a or b and anything in between. 
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