Math

Question Solve the absolute value equation 2a1=32|a|-1=3.

Studdy Solution

STEP 1

Assumptions
1. We are given the equation 2a1=32|a| - 1 = 3.
2. We need to solve for the variable aa.
3. The absolute value function x|x| returns the non-negative value of xx.

STEP 2

First, we want to isolate the absolute value expression on one side of the equation. We can do this by adding 1 to both sides of the equation.
2a1+1=3+12|a| - 1 + 1 = 3 + 1

STEP 3

Simplify both sides of the equation to get the absolute value expression by itself.
2a=42|a| = 4

STEP 4

Now, we will divide both sides of the equation by 2 to solve for the absolute value of aa.
2a2=42\frac{2|a|}{2} = \frac{4}{2}

STEP 5

Simplify both sides of the equation.
a=2|a| = 2

STEP 6

The absolute value equation a=2|a| = 2 has two possible solutions because the absolute value of a number is the distance from zero, and it can be either positive or negative.

STEP 7

The first possible solution is when the value inside the absolute value is positive.
a=2a = 2

STEP 8

The second possible solution is when the value inside the absolute value is negative.
a=2a = -2
Therefore, the solutions to the equation 2a1=32|a| - 1 = 3 are a=2a = 2 and a=2a = -2.

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