Find the values of x in the following equation:
|-5x + -2| = 12 A.x = -2 or x = 2.8 B.x = -2.8 or x = 2
C.x = -3 or x = 1 D.x = -2 or x = 3

Question

Find the values of x in the following equation: 
|-5x + -2| = 12  A.x = -2 or x = 2.8   B.x = -2.8 or x = 2  
C.x = -3 or x = 1   D.x = -2 or x = 3

anonymous · Answer

When I take the absolute value of something, what does that mean to you?

anonymous · Answer

take something away

anonymous · Answer

$$\left| x \right| = 5$$

anonymous · Answer

What can x equal in that equation?  If I take the absolute value of x and it equals 5, what does that mean x can equal?

anonymous · Answer

5?

anonymous · Answer

Yes, but it can also be something else.

anonymous · Answer

You can think of absolute value as the numerical value of a number without regard to its sign OR the distance that number is from zero on a number line.  What other number other than 5 is 5 units away from 0 on a number line?