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Bunuel
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Hello, what if the positive x constraint was not there ( hence x can be negative of positive or 0 ). Would there still be 0 values that satisfy the inequality, right ?
Thank you in advance
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Hello, what if the positive x constraint was not there ( hence x can be negative of positive or 0 ). Would there still be 0 values that satisfy the inequality, right ?
Thank you in advance

Yes, |x + 8| < x has no solutions even without that constraint.
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BrushMyQuant
|x+8|<x and we need to find the positive integer values of x which satisfy this equation

Let's solve it using three methods

Method 1: Substitution
|x+8|<x
And we need to find positive integer values of x which satisfy this
Let's take x = 1
=> |1+8| < 8
=> 9 < 8
which is NOT true.
As, there are all positive signs in the equation so any greater value of x will also not satisfy this equation
=> Answer will be 0

So, Answer will be A

Method 2: Algebra - Reducing the equation

|x+8|<x
And we need to find positive integer values of x which satisfy this
Now, if x is positive then |x+8| = x+8 as |X| = X when X >= 0
=> x+8 < x
=> 8 < 0
Now, this can never be true as 8 > 0
=> There are no positive integer values of x which satisfy this equation
=> Answer will be 0

So, Answer will be A

Method 3: Algebra - General Way

We will have to take two cases

Case 1: Whatever is inside the modulus is >= 0
=> x+8>= 0 => x >= -8
=> |x+8| = x+8 (as |X| = X when X >= 0)
=> x+8 < x
=> 8 < 0
which is not true
=> NO SOLUTION in this case

Case 2: Whatever is inside the modulus is < 0
=> x+8 < 0 => x < -8
=> |x+8| = -(x+8 ) (as |X| = -X when X < 0)
=> -(x+8) < x
=> -8 < 0
Which is TRUE
=> all negative values of x < -8 will satisfy this equation

But, we are asked about positive values
=> Answer will be 0

So, Answer will be A
Hope it helps!

Watch the following video to learn how to Solve Inequality + Absolute value Problems


The solution provided by you is spot on.

But the Case-2 mentioned in your Method-3 seems to be incorrect as:
x < -8 will still not satisfy the equation
Kindly verify
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piyushnagre99 : Thank you, solution updated. Cheers.
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