Solve for x: -5|x + 1| = 10 (1 point)

Question

imstuck · Answer

The first thing to do is to divide by the -5 to get it on the other side.

imstuck · Answer

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anonymous · Answer

i thought you dont divide though?

imstuck · Answer

Then when you remove the absolute value signs you are left with x+1 = 2 and x+1 = -2.  Then you solve for x.  You have to divide to get the absolute value of x+1 alone.

imstuck · Answer

What would YOU do then, if not divide?

anonymous · Answer

oh now that i look at it closely i was thinking about distributing i see now though

solomonzelman · Answer

An absolute value con not be equal to a negative, since absolute value is a positive number and always greater than a negative.
Thus when you divide the initial equation by `-5` on both sides, you get `NO SOLUTION`.

imstuck · Answer

Yeah that is not the same as distributing the -5.  You don't do that with the absolute values.

imstuck · Answer

Oh, this is so true, @SolomonZelman!  I completely overlooked that!  Thank you for pointing that out!  That is so true and I completely forgot!

anonymous · Answer

so then its no solution cause it cant = a negative?

solomonzelman · Answer

yes        `│something│≠   negative number `

anonymous · Answer

ok then thank very much :D

jdoe0001 · Answer

whatever comes out of the absolute value expression, will be positive
and -5 times that, will yield a negative
so
the left side will always be negative for any "x"