SOLUTION: I need help solving for x: I am going to use | | for the absolute value symbol Problem: |3x-4|+3=5 Thanks!

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Question 316595: I need help solving for x: I am going to use | | for the absolute value symbol
Problem: |3x-4|+3=5
Thanks!

Answer by moshiz08(60) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
|3x-4|+3=5
Subtract 3 from both sides to get
|3x-4|=2

The absolute value is always positive. When you take the absolute value of a positive number, you get the same thing back. When you take the absolute value of a negative number, you get a positive number.
What number can you take the absolute value of to get 2? The absolute value of 2 is 2. Also, the absolute value of -2 is 2.
So the 3x-4 can either be equal to 2 or -2. In either case, when you take the absolute value of it, you will get 2.
3x-4+=+2
+3x+=+6+
+x+=2+
OR
+3x+-+4+=+-2+
+3x+=+2+
x+=+2%2F3
So there are two solutions, x=2 or x=2/3.