Chapter 9: Problem 28
Solve each absolute value equation. \(|x|=1\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The solutions are \(x = 1\) and \(x = -1\).
Step by step solution
01
Understanding the Absolute Value Equation
The given equation is \(|x| = 1\). Absolute value represents the distance of a number from zero, hence \(|x| = 1\) means the values of \(x\) are at a distance of 1 unit from zero on the number line.
02
Split into Two Possible Equations
An absolute value equation \(|x| = a\) can be split into two separate equations: 1. \(x = a\)2. \(x = -a\).Given \(|x| = 1\), we create the equations:1. \(x = 1\)2. \(x = -1\).
03
Solutions for x
The solutions from the equations in the previous step are:- From \(x = 1\), we have \(x = 1\).- From \(x = -1\), we have \(x = -1\).Thus, the solutions to \(|x| = 1\) are \(x = 1\) and \(x = -1\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Algebra
Algebra can be seen as a bridge between arithmetic and abstract mathematics, dealing with symbols and the rules for manipulating these symbols. These symbols represent numbers and are used to express mathematical ideas and relationships.
- Algebra helps us solve equations and find unknown values by using known quantities.
- It involves techniques for expressing mathematical relationships using variables, constants, and operational symbols like "+" and "-".
Absolute Value
The concept of absolute value might seem a bit abstract at first, but it's quite simple once you break it down. The absolute value of a number is essentially how far that number is from zero, without considering its direction on the number line.
- Given any number \(a\), the absolute value \(|a|\) is always positive or zero.
- The absolute value ignores whether \(a\) is negative or positive.
Solving Equations
Solving equations is a core aspect of algebra, where we aim to find the value of the unknown variable that satisfies the equation. When dealing with absolute value equations like \(|x|=1\), there are specific steps to follow:
- Recognize the absolute value equation and understand what it represents, such as the distance from zero.
- Split the absolute value equation into two separate linear equations based on the property that \(|x| = a\) gives \(x = a\) and \(x = -a\).
- Solve each of these linear equations individually to find all potential values for the variable.