values of x if - 4| 2x + 3 | - 1 = - 13

Question

What is the value of x if - 4| 2x + 3 | - 1 = - 13

Answer 1

What is the value of x if - 4| 2x + 3 | - 1 = - 13

Isolate the abs val: add 1 to both sides -4 |2x+3| = -12

divide both sides by -4 |2x+3| = 3

Abs val problems always have two parts to answer.

2x + 3 = 3 2x + 3 = -3 NOTICE: The expression inside the verticals does NOT CHANGE.

What changes is the number after the "=" , the 3 becomes -3 for the 2nd part of the answer

Now solve: subtract 3 from both sides: 2x = 0 2x = -6

divide both sides by 2 x = 0 x = -3

The two answers are x = 0 and x = -3