How do you solve 4|x + 5| + -6 = 34?

1 Answer
Apr 19, 2017

x = 5, x = -15

Explanation:

Given: 4|x+5| + -6 = 34

Start by adding 6 to both sides of the equation:

4|x+5| + -6 + 6 = 34 + 6

Simplify: 4|x+5| = 40

Divide both sides by 4: (4|x+5|)/4 = 40/4

Simplify: |x+5| = 10

Break the function into two equations:
y = |x+a| " is " y = x +a" and " y = -(x+a)

|x+5| = 10 " is " x+5 = 10 " and " -(x+5) = 10

Solve each equation:

x+5 = 10
x+5 - 5 = 10 - 5
x = 5

-(x+5) = 10
-x - 5 = 10
-x -5 + 5 = 10 + 5
-x = 15
x = -15

Check answers :
4|5+5| + -6 = 4*10 -6 = 40 - 6 = 34
4|5 + -15| + -6 = 4|-10| - 6 = 4(10) - 6 = 34