Current Events > @MATH PEOPLE: can you help me out with this problem?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Im rusty as hell. This is an absolute value problem Im struggling with. How would I go about getting rid of the fractions?

= Obama is Satan.


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It's true

4 = 12/3
-6 = -18/3

Substitute and math it out.

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Nestor_Cortes posted...

It's true

Yes, but how do I get rid of those fractions?

They both equal 22/3
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Awards posted...

Yes, but how do I get rid of those fractions?

You can't get rid of them. Multiply the whole number by the numerator, so 2(5/3) = 10/3. To add +4, make it 12/3 so you can add it to 10/3. Your final answer is 22/3.
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Awards posted...

How would I go about getting rid of the fractions?

Why would you need to do that?

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Absolute value is the distance from 0. So if something is 7 spots away from 0 or -7 spots away from 0 it is all the same 7 spots away from 0. And is 7.

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You could also multiply both sides of the equation by 3 to deal with only whole numbers. But it's not necessary at all.

The absolute value signs on the left are irrelevant, since you're only dealing with adding positive numbers.

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2*(5/3)=10/3

(10/3)+4 = 22/3

edit: 22/3 = 8(5/3) so the original equation is false

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https://www.wolframalpha.com/

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Robot2600 posted...

2*(5/3)=10/3

(10/3)+4 = 22/3

edit: 22/3 = 8(5/3) so the original equation is false

Take another look at the right side of the equation
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Robot2600 posted...

2*(5/3)=10/3

(10/3)+4 = 22/3

edit: 22/3 = 8(5/3) so the original equation is false

....is there a reason you just ignored the "-6" on the right?

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I have another problem I need help with. I understand everything up until the red circle. Can someone explain?

Again, Im rusty as hell. Havent taken math in years.

When solving for an absolute value equation, you isolate the absolute value portion. So if it's "2 x |15x + 30^2| - 100", you'd have to add 100 and divide by 2 on the other side so you just have the absolute value portion left over.

*Now*, if the absolute value "equals" a negative number, you know by default that it's false, because... an absolute value can't equal a negative.

If, on the other side, you have a *positive* number though, then you need to solve for X as if the positive number were both ... positive and negative.

For instance, |2 + x| = 5

For that, you'd need to solve 2 + x = 5 and 2 + x = -5.

Left: 5 - 2 = 3. |2 + 3| = 5? Yes.
Right: -5 - 2 = -7. |2 + (-7)| = 5? Yes.

**Corrected that sorry!

That's a really dumb example, usually the two values you get are different but they both work because after you solve what's in the absolute value part, you're left with the... absolute value of the number inside which will always be positive.

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Also if it helps to visualize, an absolute value function when graph makes a V shape or ^ shape if it has a negative coefficient. That's because if you plug in -2 or 2 you'll get the same Y value for those inputs and then if you plug in -3 or 3 you'll get the same Y value for those inputs.

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Awards posted...

I have another problem I need help with. I understand everything up until the red circle. Can someone explain?

Again, Im rusty as hell. Havent taken math in years.

To isolate c, you multiply both sides by the denominator of the fraction to cancel that out, then divide both sides by the numerator to cancel that one out too.
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If the fractions are the confusing part...

Multiplication is the easiest, you just multiply straight across. If you have a whole number, then put it over a 1 and multiply across. So "8" becomes "8/1". Therefore, "8/1" multiplied by "3/2" becomes "24/2" (which equals 12).

Division is the next easiest becauuuuuse... you just turn it into multiplication. So if you have "3/2" divided by "8/1", you just flip the "8/1" on its head so now it is "1/8" and multiply across (3/2 times 1/8 is 3/16).

Addition and Subtraction are pains since you have to make the denominators equal. So if you have 4/3 and 5/4, you need to figure out the least common denominator (for 4 and 3 that's 12. To get to 12 from 3, multiply the top and bottom by 4, so 4/3 becomes 16/12. To get to 12 from 4, multiply top and bottom by 3, so 5/4 becomes 15/12). Then you add the *top* numbers only, without touching the bottom (15/12 + 16/12 = 31/12). Subtraction is a similar idea except you're subtracting the numerators instead of adding.

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Ce3k?

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@Math_Murderer

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