Skip to main content
Ch. 1 - Equations and Inequalities
Lial - College Algebra 13th Edition
Lial13th EditionCollege AlgebraISBN: 9780136881063Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 2, Problem 16

Solve each equation. |3/ (2x - 3) | = 4

Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the equation given: \(\left| \frac{3}{2}x - 1 \right| = 4\). The absolute value expression means the quantity inside the absolute value can be either positive or negative but its distance from zero is 4.
Set up two separate equations to remove the absolute value: one where the inside expression equals 4, and one where it equals -4. So, write: \(\frac{3}{2}x - 1 = 4\) and \(\frac{3}{2}x - 1 = -4\).
Solve the first equation \(\frac{3}{2}x - 1 = 4\) by isolating \(x\). Add 1 to both sides to get \(\frac{3}{2}x = 5\), then multiply both sides by the reciprocal of \(\frac{3}{2}\), which is \(\frac{2}{3}\), to find \(x\).
Solve the second equation \(\frac{3}{2}x - 1 = -4\) similarly. Add 1 to both sides to get \(\frac{3}{2}x = -3\), then multiply both sides by \(\frac{2}{3}\) to find \(x\).
Write the two solutions for \(x\) obtained from the two equations. These are the values of \(x\) that satisfy the original absolute value equation.

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Video duration:
4m
Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Absolute Value Equations

An absolute value equation involves expressions within absolute value bars, which represent the distance from zero on the number line. To solve, set the expression inside the absolute value equal to both the positive and negative values of the number on the other side of the equation.
Recommended video:
06:00
Categorizing Linear Equations

Isolating the Variable

Before solving an equation, isolate the variable term by performing inverse operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. This simplifies the equation and makes it easier to solve for the variable.
Recommended video:
Guided course
05:28
Equations with Two Variables

Solving Linear Equations

Linear equations are equations of the first degree, meaning the variable is not raised to any power other than one. After isolating the variable, solve the resulting linear equations by performing arithmetic operations to find the variable's value.
Recommended video:
04:02
Solving Linear Equations with Fractions
Related Practice
Textbook Question

Determine the values of the variable that cannot possibly be solutions of each equation. Do not solve. 1/(4x) - 2/x = 3

530
views
Textbook Question

Solve each problem. See Example 1. The perimeter of a triangular plot of land is 2400 ft.The longest side is 200 ft less than twice the shortest. The middle side is 200 ft less than the longest side. Find the lengths of the three sides of the triangular plot.

707
views
Textbook Question

Determine the values of the variable that cannot possibly be solutions of each equation. Do not solve. 5/(2x) - 2/x = 6

560
views
Textbook Question

Solve each problem. (Modeling) Lead Intake As directed by the 'Safe Drinking Water Act' of December 1974, the EPA proposed a maximum lead level in public drinking water of 0.05 mg per liter. This standard assumed an individual consumption of two liters of water per day. If EPA guidelines are followed, write an equation that models the maximum amount of lead A ingested in x years. Assume that there are 365.25 days in a year.

628
views
Textbook Question

Use the following facts. If x represents an integer, then x+1 represents the next consecutive integer. If x represents an even integer, then x+2 represents the next consecutive even integer. If x represents an odd integer, then x+2 represents the next consecutive odd integer. The sum of the squares of two consecutive even integers is 52. Find the integers.

976
views
Textbook Question

Solve each problem. (Modeling) Online Retail Sales Projected retail e-commerce sales (in billions of dollars) for the years 2016–2022 can be modeled by the equation y=52.304x+396.80, where x=0 corresponds to 2016, x=1 corresponds to 2017, and so on. Based on this model, find projected retail e-commerce sales in 2022 to the nearest tenth of a billion. (Data from www.statista.com)

616
views