SOLUTION: What is the absolute value of x^2-9=16?

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Question 672490: What is the absolute value of x^2-9=16?
Answer by KMST(5328) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x%5E2-9=16 is a quadratic equation.
Maybe you were told to solve it using absolute value or some such thing.
Here is how I would solve that equation:
x%5E2-9=16-->x%5E2-9%2B9=16%2B9-->x%5E2=25-->sqrt%28x%5E2%29=sqrt%2825%29-->abs%28x%29=sqrt%2825%29
That makes the solutions highlight%28x=5%29 and highlight%28x=-5%29.

Absolute value is the value of a number or expression, without the sign.
For example, the absolute value of -5 is abs%28-5%29=5.
The absolute value of an expression involving a variable usually cannot be found without more information.
For example, I cannot figure out abs%28x%5E2-3%29 unless I am told some more information about x.