Question

Solve:

Answer 1

\[|x-4| + 9 = 3\]

Answer 2

Any ideas on where to start?

Answer 3

Doesn't it turn to \[|x+4| +9 = 3\]

Answer 4

Nope,try again.
We want to isolate the x so we would subtract 9 from both sides to begin with .
\[\huge~\rm~\bf~|x+4|+9-9=3-9\]
what would we be left with?

Answer 5

\[|x+4| = -6\] ?

Answer 6

Then add the 4?

Answer 7

x = -2 ?

Answer 8

No. It would be |x−4|=-6
and we can't do anything else with it because there's a negative solution.
Absolute values cannot have a negative solution (a value less than 0)

Answer 9

I'm so freaking confused.

Answer 10

On what part?

Answer 11

All

Answer 12

You've confused me.

Answer 13

do you know what
| -9 | simplifies to ?

Answer 14

To 9

Answer 15

what about
| -1 | ?

Answer 16

1

Answer 17

now think about this:
if you put a negative number inside the | | you get a positive number when you simplify. sound right ?

Answer 18

for example | -1 | =1
|-2| = 2
and so on...

Answer 19

and if you put in a positive number example:
| 9| = 9
we get a positive number after simplifying.

in other words, no matter what we put inside the | |, we get out a positive number

and that means *it is not possible* for
| any number you can think of | = -6
it can't happen.

Answer 20

pooja was explaining there is no solution to your equation.