Question

Which represents the solution to the absolute value equation? 3|2x+4|-1=11

Answer 1

The first step for absolute value equations is to isolate the expression contained within the absolute value bars:

3|2x+4|-1 = 11
3|2x+4| = 12
|2x+4| = 4

so |2x+4| is 4 units away from 0 on a number line, but we don't know in which direction -- negative or positive? you'll have two answers.

2x+4 = 4

AND

2x+4 = -4

solve both of those two step equations and you'll get

x = 0

AND

x = -4

so 0 and -4 are your solutions.