Solve the absolute value equation, if possible. If there is no solution, explain why.

| 5x + 13| = -7

Question

Solve the absolute value equation, if possible.  If there is no solution, explain why. 

| 5x + 13| = -7

anonymous · Answer

solve like normal, and then take the absolute value of whatever x is. So if it's a negative just make it a positive basically

dtan5457 · Answer

Absolute value equations, 2 solutions

5x+13=-7
5x+13=7

solve for both

anonymous · Answer

5x=20

anonymous · Answer

5/20=4

anonymous · Answer

is that right

dtan5457 · Answer

none of them have 20 lol

anonymous · Answer

then how to do it

perl · Answer

hint: an absolute value expression can never be negative

anonymous · Answer

so I should change -7 to 7 or what

jhannybean · Answer

|5x+13|=-7

-(5x+13) = -7                                                 5x+13 = -7

jhannybean · Answer

Solve for both.

perl · Answer

you're done. there's no solution

perl · Answer

The solution set is empty (thats a fancy way of saying no solutions).

tkhunny · Answer

No, no, no, no, no!!!

|Stuff| >= 0

It can NEVER be -7.

Just glance at it and state that and move on.  There is no solution.  No need to tinker with it!

anonymous · Answer

oh ok thanks

perl · Answer

You can also graph the right side and left side as separate functions. One can see there is no intersection . Note that you have to zoom out to see both curves. https://www.desmos.com/calculator/qdf6wzh7rs

perl · Answer

oops, typo in function https://www.desmos.com/calculator/bqbsjiytma

anonymous · Answer

oh ok