|x-1/5|= 3

For absolute equations, you actually have two equations you are solving for:

x - 1/5 = 3

and -(x - 1/5) = 3. There you have a negative outside the parentheses, that means you have to just switch the signs around in the parenthesis (aka multiply by -1). 

So you would end up with -x + 1/5 = 3. 

So your two equations to solve for x are:

x - 1/5 = 3 and -x + 1/5 = 3. 

To solve the left equation, add 1/5 to both sides:

x = 3 + 1/5     But you need to change the fractions to get an answer. 

x = 15/5 + 1/5

x = 16/5 this is your first answer. 

Now solve the second equation: -x + 1/5 = 3.

It's pretty much the same thing: except you subtract 1/5 from both sides. 

-x = 3 - 1/5 

now change the fractions 

-x = 15/5 - 1/5

-x = 14/5

x is negative (or multiplied by -1) so in order to find positive x, you need to divide both sides by -1, or just change the signs. 

So you end up with: 

x = 14/5 

and you are done! :)

Because of the absolute value signs, there are two conditions to consider: 

1. x - 1/5 = 3

2. -(x - 1/5) = 3   (which can also be written as x - 1/5 = -3)

Solve each of these for x, and you will have your possible x values.