Question

Solve the absolute value.

|
x
|
=
8

Answer 1

Note that:

• Given equation: IxI = 8
• If a question is saying to find the absolute value of a number, that number will always result in positive.

This can lead to two solutions:

• IxI = 8 ⇒ x = 8
• IxI = 8 ⇒ x = -8

Answer 2

x = -8, x = 8

Explanation:

|x| = 8

The absolute value turns the negative value inside the positive.

When given an absolute value like this, there are two cases.

If the absolute value is equal to something greater than 0, it has two solutions. If less than 0, it has no solutions. If it is equal to 0 it has 1 solution.

Since 8 is greater than 0, there are two solutions.

On solution is the positive version, one is the negative

So:

• |x| = 8
• x = 8, x = -8

-Chetan K