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10 Jul 2016, 12:59
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Hey everyone 
So, I just came across an absolute value equation that I had to solve:
12 + | w - 4 | = 30
I managed to solve for both the positive and negative values successfully:
Positive value:
w - 4 = 30 - 12
w - 4 = 18
w = 22
Negative value:
w - 4 = - 18
w = 14
Now, plugging in the values to get confirmation:
12 + | 22 - 4 |
12 + 18 = 30
So positive value 18 is correct.
Then for the second value:
12 + | - 14 - 4 |
12 + ( - 18 ) = - 6, and since - 6 ≠ 30, the negative value - 14 is incorrect.
However, according to the explanation given in the book, the solution - 14 is valid because:
12 + | - 14 - 4 |= 12 + 18 = 30, but the result should be 12 - 18, not 12 + 18.
Is there something I am missing here or is it just a mistake on the book?
So, I just came across an absolute value equation that I had to solve:
12 + | w - 4 | = 30
I managed to solve for both the positive and negative values successfully:
Positive value:
w - 4 = 30 - 12
w - 4 = 18
w = 22
Negative value:
w - 4 = - 18
w = 14
Now, plugging in the values to get confirmation:
12 + | 22 - 4 |
12 + 18 = 30
So positive value 18 is correct.
Then for the second value:
12 + | - 14 - 4 |
12 + ( - 18 ) = - 6, and since - 6 ≠ 30, the negative value - 14 is incorrect.
However, according to the explanation given in the book, the solution - 14 is valid because:
12 + | - 14 - 4 |= 12 + 18 = 30, but the result should be 12 - 18, not 12 + 18.
Is there something I am missing here or is it just a mistake on the book?
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RaghavSingla
Joined: 27 Jan 2013
Last visit: 10 Jun 2020
Posts: 83
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Location: India
Schools: EDHEC Sept Intake"17 (A)
GMAT 1: 700 Q49 V35
GPA: 3.7
10 Jul 2016, 14:55
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Then for the second value:
12 + | - 14 - 4 |
12 + ( - 18 ) = - 6, and since - 6 ≠ 30, the negative value - 14 is incorrect.
The highlighted part is wrong. Because when using modulus, you always take the absolute value which is always non negative ( >= 0) . Hence |-18| = 18.
Please give kudos if this helps!
12 + | - 14 - 4 |
12 + ( - 18 ) = - 6, and since - 6 ≠ 30, the negative value - 14 is incorrect.
The highlighted part is wrong. Because when using modulus, you always take the absolute value which is always non negative ( >= 0) . Hence |-18| = 18.
Please give kudos if this helps!
