| 7x - 1 | + 5 = 2

Question

Solve the equation showing the procedure. Write your answer in set-builder notation.

Answer 1

| 7x - 1 | = -3 

 

Since the absolute value of a quantity can never be negative this equation has no solutions.  

 

In set-builder notation this is {Ø} which represents the null or empty set.  

 

You can't check this answer by plugging in any values, but if you look at the original equation you will see that the smallest the left hand side can be is 5, so it can never equal 2.