Question

The equation |x-3| = 4 has what solutions?

Answer 1

-1 and 7

Explanation:

Any equation within the | | notation is an absolute value, where the the value of the equation can only be positive.

So within the notation, we have two possibilities to the solution, a positive and negative value.

In other words, |4| = 4 and |-4| = 4

Hence, we only need to substitute x with an appropriate integer to satisfy the answer.

|x - 3| = 4

substitute x = 7

|7 - 3| = 4

|4| = 4

substitute x = -1

|-1 - 3| = 4

|-4| = 4

Therefore the solutions to x is x = 7 and x = -1.

Answer 2

x-3=4

x=4+3

X=7

or

x-3=-4

x=-4+3

x=-1