Question

What is |x| − 2 = 5?

Answer 1

Answer: 7 and -7

Explanation:

You add 2 to both sides to get |x| = 7

7 and -7 would be the answer. Absolute value is really a piecewise function, so any value less than zero, youd use the argument -(x) to get -(-7) = 7

Answer 2

x=7, x=-7

Explanation:

|x| − 2 = 5

Add 2 to each side

|x| − 2+2 = 5+2

|x| = 7

The absolute value has two solutions, one positive and one negative

x=7, x=-7