Question

Let x be a real number. Find the lowest possible value of |5x^2 - 16| + |10x - 2|.

Answer 1

Since the equations are for absolute value this means any negative number used the answer would become positive, so to get the lowest value possible x would need to equal 0, which would eliminate the x variable from the equations.

Replace x with 0 and solve:

|5(0)^2 - 16| + |10(0) - 2|

Simplify:

|0 - 16| + |0 - 2|

|-16| + |-2|

Combine:

|-18|

Absolute Value = 18