Expert: Sherman D. - 9/9/2007

Question
QUESTION: can u please solve it because im just not doing it right and tell me the steps because im supposed to have solutions


[x+15]=37

ANSWER: if you are doing absolute values.

|x + 15| = 37

this can be done like this

±(x + 15) = 37
x + 15 = ±37
x = 22 or -49

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: |t - 4| - 5 = 0

ANSWER: |t - 4| - 5 = 0
|t - 4| = 5

using the same method

±(t - 4) = 5
t - 4 = ±5
t = 9 or -1

just keep in mind, if you had a negative value on the right side, then the problem would be unsolvable, because you can't have a negative absolute value.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: | m + 3 | = 12 - 2m

Answer
|m + 3| = 12 - 2m

USING THE SAME METHOD

±(m + 3) = 12 - 2m
m + 3 = ±(12 - 2m)
m + 3 = 12 - 2m or 2m - 12

3m = 9 or -m = -15
m = 3 or 15

however, when you plug in 15, you get |18| = -18, which isn't true, so

ANS : m = 3

www.quickmath.com will give you the same answer. Just click on Solve under Equations, type in your problem just like you have it, and change the variable to m instead of x, click Solve, and it will give you m = 3