|x - 4| = 5
break down the problem into two equations;
x - 4 = 5
-(x - 4) = 5
solve the first equation;
x - 4 = 5
x = 5 + 4
x = 9
solve the second equation;
-(x - 4) = 5
-x + 4 = 5
4 - x = 5
-x = 5 - 4
-x = 1
x = -1
solutions are:
x = -1, 9
I hope this was helpful!