Question

How can I solve |2x - 5| = 4?

Answer 1

well, you already know an absolute value expression has a ± siblings, so let's proceed without much fuss.

$\bf |2x-5|=4\implies \begin{cases} +(2x-5)=4\implies 2x=9\implies x=\cfrac{9}{2}\\[-0.5em] \hrulefill\\ -(2x-5)=4\implies 2x-5=-4\\[1em] 2x=1\implies x=\cfrac{1}{2} \end{cases}$