EQUATION INVOLVING ABSOLUTE VALUE:

Another type of linear equation is the one that contains absolute value. To solve equations
involving absolute value we first give the following definition.
ABSOLUTE VALUE:
The absolute value of a real number ‘a’ denoted by | 𝑎 |, is defined a
𝒂, 𝒊𝒇 𝒂 ≥ 𝟎
|𝒂| ={
−𝒂, 𝒊𝒇 𝒂 < 𝟎
e.g., |4| = 4, |0| = 0 , and |−2| = −(−2) = 2
Some properties of Absolute Value:
If 𝒂, 𝒃 ∈ 𝑹, then
i. |𝒂|≥ 𝟎
ii. | –𝒂 | = | 𝒂 |
iii. | 𝒂𝒃 | = | 𝒂 | . | 𝒃 |
𝒂 |𝒂|
iv. |𝒃| = |𝒃| , 𝒃 ≠ 𝟎

Solving Linear Equations Involving Absolute Value:

Keeping in mind the definition of absolute value, we can immediately say that
| 𝑥 | = 3 is equivalent to 𝑥 = 3 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = – 3,
because 𝑥 = +3 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = – 3 make | 𝑥 | = 3 a true statement. For solving an equation
involving absolute value, we express the given equation as an equivalent compound sentence
and solve each part separately.
Example 1.
Solve and check, | 2x + 3 | = 11
Solution By definition, depending on whether (2x + 3) is positive or negative, the given
equation is equivalent to
+(2𝑥 + 3) = 11 or – (2𝑥 + 3) = 11
In practice, these two equations are usually written as
2𝑥 + 3 = + 11 or 2𝑥 + 3 = – 11
2𝑥 = 8 or 2𝑥 = – 14
𝑥= 4 or 𝑥 = –7
Verify:
Substituting x = 4, in the original equation, we get
| 2(4) + 3| = 11
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i.e., 11 = 11, verified.

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New substituting x = –7, we have
|2(– 7) + 3| = 11
| – 11 | = 11
11 = 11, verified
Hence x = 4, – 7 are the solutions to the given equation. or Solution set = {– 7, 4}
Note: For an equation like 3|x – 1| – 6 = 8, do not forget to isolate the absolute value expression
on one side of the equation before writing the equivalent equations. In the equation under
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consideration, we must first write it as |𝑥 – 1| = 3

Example 2 Solve |8𝑥 – 3| = |4𝑥 + 51|

Solution Since two numbers having the same absolute value are either equal or differ in sign,
therefore, the given equation is equivalent to
8𝑥 – 3 = 4𝑥 + 5 or 8𝑥 – 3 = – (4𝑥 + 5)
4𝑥 = 8 or 12𝑥 = – 2
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𝑥= 2 or 𝑥 = –6
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On checking we find 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = 2, 𝑥 = – 6 , both satisfy the original equation.
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Hence the solution set {– 6 , 2}.

Sometimes it may happen that the solution(s) obtained do not satisfy the original equation.
Such solution(s) (called extraneous) must be rejected. Therefore, it is always advisable to check
the solutions in the original equation.
Example 3
Solve and check |3x + 10 | = 5x + 6
Solution.
The given equation is equivalent to
± (3𝑥 + 10) = 5𝑥 + 6
i.e., 3𝑥 + 10 = 5𝑥 + 6 or 3𝑥 + 10 = – (5𝑥 + 6)
– 2𝑥 = – 4 or 8𝑥 = – 16
𝑥 = 2 or 𝑥 = –2
On checking in the original equation, we see that 𝑥 = – 2 does not satisfy it. Hence the only
solution is 𝑥 = 2.
Note:
i. The equation | 𝑥 – 4 | = – 4 has no solution.
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ii. | x | = 0 has only one solution.

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 iii. The equation | x | = 2 is equivalent to x = 2 or x = –2.
iv. All absolute value equations have two solutions.
Worksheet: - 1
1. Solve for x:
i. |𝟑𝒙 − 𝟓| = 𝟒 xi. |𝟑𝒙 − 𝟐| = 𝟓
ii. |3 + 2x| = |6x – 7| xii. |𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏| = 𝟕
𝟏
iii |𝟑𝒙 + 𝟐| − 𝟒 = 𝟏𝟏 xiii. |𝟑𝒙 − 𝟒| = |𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑|
𝟐

iv. |𝟐𝒙 + 𝟓| = 𝟏𝟏 xvi. |𝒙 − 𝟑| + 𝟓 = 𝟖

v. |x + 2| - 3 = 5 - |x + 2| xv. |𝟐𝒙 − 𝟕| = 𝟗
vi. |3 + 2x| = |6x – 7| xvi. |𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒| − 𝟑 = 𝟏
𝟑𝒙−𝟓 𝟏 𝟐
vii. | |− = xvii. |𝟑𝒙 − 𝟓| = −𝟒
𝟐 𝟑 𝟑
𝒙+𝟓
viii. | |=𝟔 xviii. |𝒙 − 𝟓| = 𝟏 + |𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏|
𝟐−𝒙

ix. |𝟓𝒙 − 𝟐| + 𝟒 = 𝟗 xix. 3|𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏| − 𝟐 = 𝟒

𝟐
x. |𝟔𝒙 − 𝟒| + 𝟑 = 𝟕 xx. |𝒙 − 𝟓| + 𝟓 = 𝟑
𝟑

2. A number is 4 units away from 10 on a number line. What are the possible values of
the number?
3. A shopkeeper sells items at an average price of $20. However, the price of each item
can differ by as much as $5 from this average. Write an absolute value equation that represents
the range of prices the shopkeeper can charge for the items, and find the minimum and
maximum prices.
4. A hiker starts at a point located 3 miles from a base camp. After some time, the hiker is
8 miles away from the base camp, either to the east or west. Write an equation that represents
the distance the hiker can be from the base camp, and solve for the possible positions.

LINEAR INEQUALITIES:
Linear inequalities are mathematical expressions that involve a linear polynomial and an
inequality sign instead of an equality sign. They represent relationships where one expression
is not necessarily equal to another, allowing for a range of possible values. The important
comparing property of ordering real numbers. This order relation helps us to compare two real
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numbers ‘a’ and ‘b’ when 𝑎 ≠ 𝑏. This comparability is of primary importance in many

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applications. We may compare prices, heights, weights, temperatures, distances, costs of
manufacturing, distances, time etc. The inequality symbols < and > were introduced by an
English mathematician Thomas Harriot (1560 — 1621).

Defining Inequalities:
Let a, b be real numbers. Then a is greater than b if the difference 𝑎 – 𝑏 is positive and we
denote this order relation by the inequality 𝑎 > 𝑏. An equivalent statement is that in which b
is less than a, symbolised by 𝑏 < 𝑎 Similarly, if 𝑎 – 𝑏 is negative, then a is less than b and
expressed in symbols as 𝑎 < 𝑏.
Sometimes we know that one number is either less than another number or equal to it. But we
do not know which one is the case. In such a situation we use the symbol “<” which is read as
“less than or equal to” Likewise, the symbol “≥” is used to mean “greater than or equal to”
is used to mean “greater than or equal to”. The symbols < , and > are also called inequality
signs. The inequalities 𝑥 > 𝑦 and 𝑥 < 𝑦 are known as strict (or strong) whereas the
inequalities where as 𝑥 ≤ 𝑦 and 𝑦 ≤ 𝑥 are called non-strict (or weak).

If we combine a < b and b < c we get a double inequality written in a compact form as
𝑎 < 𝑏 < 𝑐 which means “b lies between a and c” and read as “a is less than b less than c”
Similarly, “𝑎 ≤ 𝑏 ≤ 𝑐” is read as “b is between a and c, inclusive.”

A linear inequality in one variable x is an inequality in which the variable x occurs only
to the first power and has the standard form
𝒂𝒙 + 𝒃 < 𝟎, 𝒂 ≠ 𝟎
where a and b are real numbers. We may replace the symbol < 𝑏𝑦 >, ≤ 𝑜𝑟 ≥ also.
PROPERTIES OF INEQUALITIE:
The properties of inequalities which we are going to use in solving linear inequalities in one
variable are as under
i. Law of Trichotomy:
For any a, b ∈ R, one and only one of the following statements is true.
𝑎 < 𝑏 𝑜𝑟 𝑎 = 𝑏, 𝑜𝑟 𝑎 > 𝑏
An important special case of this property is the case for b = 0; namely,
𝑎 < 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑎 = 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑎 > 0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑎 ∈ 𝑅
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ii. Transitive Property:

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 Let 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 ∈ 𝑅.
(a) If 𝑎 > 𝑏 and 𝑏 > 𝑐, then 𝑎 > 𝑐
(b) If 𝑎 < 𝑐, then 𝑎 < 𝑐
iii. Additive Closure Property:
(a) If a > b, then a + c > b + c
If a < b, then a + c < b + c
(b) If a > 0 and b > 0, then a + b > 0
If a < 0 and b < 0, then a + b < 0
iv. Multiplicative Property:
Let 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑 ∈ 𝑅
(a) If a > 0 and b > 0, then ab > 0, whereas a < 0 and b < 0 ⇒ ab > 0
(b) If a > b and c > 0, then ac > bc
or if a < b and c > 0, then ac < bc
(c) If a > b and c < 0, then ac < bc
or if a < b and c < 0, then ac > bc
The above property (iii) states that the sign of inequality is reversed
(d) If a > b and c > d, then ac > bd
SOLVING LINEAR INEQUALITIES:
The method of solving an algebraic inequality in one variable is explained with the help of
following examples
Example 1
Solve 9 – 7x > 19 – 2x, where x ∈R.
Solution:
9 – 7𝑥 > 19 – 2𝑥
9 – 5𝑥 > 19 …… (Adding 2x to each side)
– 5𝑥 > 10 …… (Adding –9 to each side)
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𝑥 < – 2 …… (Multiplying each side by5). Hence the solution set = {𝑥|𝑥 < – 2}

Worksheet: - 2
1. Solve the following inequalities:
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2. Solve the following inequalities:

3. Solve for x.

4. Word problems:
i. Ari can harvest at least 48 pounds of honey from her bee colony. If she wants to package
the honey harvest in 1.5 pound jars, what is the minimum number of jars she can fill?
ii. Zoey has $5 and wants to rent a scooter. The scooter costs $1 to unlock and $0.25 for
each minute of use. Write an expression for the total cost in dollars of renting the scooter if
Zoey uses it for 𝑥 minutes.
iii. Five less than twice a number is at most 25. Find the approximate value of the number?
5. Solve for x
I. 𝟒(𝟑𝒙 − 𝟐) ≤ −𝟐(𝒙 + 𝟑) + 𝟏𝟐
II. 𝟓(𝒙 − 𝟑) ≥ 𝟏𝟓𝒙 − (𝟏𝟎𝒙 + 𝟒)
III. 𝟏𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏 > 𝟐(𝟔𝒙 − 𝟑) − 𝟓

IV. 𝟑(𝒙 − 𝟐) + 𝟓 > 𝟐(𝟑𝒙 + 𝟓) + 𝟐

V. −𝟒(𝟑𝒙 − 𝟏) + 𝟐𝒙 ≤ 𝟐(𝟒𝒙 − 𝟏) − 𝟑
VI. −𝟐(𝒙 − 𝟐) + 𝟏𝟒𝒙 < 𝟕(𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏)
VII. 𝟒(𝒙 + 𝟐) − 𝟏 > 𝟓 − 𝟕(𝟒 − 𝒙)
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