How do you solve $abs(y - 5)- 2 = 10$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2015-04-03T16:07:33

If we want a $y$ to make $abs(y - 5)- 2 = 10$ , we'll need a $y$ that makes $abs(y - 5) = 12$ . (Add 2 to both sides.)

There are two numbers whose absolute value is 12, namely 12 and - 12.

So we need either: $y-5 = 12$ and $y=17$

or $y-5=-12$ so $y = - 7$

Check both answers (to make sure neither is extraneous).
Both are OK, so they are the solutions.

How do you solve abs(y - 5)- 2 = 10abs(y - 5)- 2 = 10?