Question

solve for x
|x-9|=4

Answer 1

This needs to be solved for both 4 and -4
\[x-9 = -4\]
\[x=5\]
Now for 4:
\[x-9=4\]
\[x=13\]

Answer 2

The absolute value indicates that the negative answer becomes positive which is why we solve for both -4 and 4.