Educator

Equations with Absolute Values

• The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero on the number line.

• The absolute value of x is written as |x|. It is always 0 or positive.

• If |x| = a, the either x = a or x = -a. To solve an absolute value equation, solve both of these equations. The solution of the absolute value equation consists of all solutions to each of these equations.

• An absolute value equation can have no solution.

• The graph of the absolute value function has the shape of the letter V. The graph can be translated vertically or horizontally depending on the constants involved in the function.