|x+13|=|x-10|
To remove the absolute value bars | |, we break it into two
equations,
(1) where the expressions inside that absolute values have THE
SAME sign,
and
(2) where the expressions inside that absolute values have OPPOSITE
signs.
We examine case (1), which is
x + 13 = x - 10
Subtract x from both sides and we have
13 = -10
Which is false and shows that case (1) has no solution.
So we examine case (2), which is
x + 13 = -(x - 10)
x + 13 = -x + 10
Add x to both sides and we have
2x + 13 = 10
Subtracting 13 from both sides:
2x = -3
Dividing both sides by 2:
x =
So this absolute value equation has only one solution, since
case (1) turned out to have no solution.
Edwin