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8x - 7 > 3x + 8
5x > 15
x > 3

8x - 7 < -(3x + 8)
8x - 7 < -3x - 8
11x < -1
x < -1/11

Therefore, x cannot be \(1<x<3\). Answer is A.
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Can someone please tell me what am i doing wrong here

-(8x-7) < 3x+8
-8x+7<3x+8
-1<11x
-1/11<x
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Can someone please tell me what am i doing wrong here

-(8x-7) < 3x+8
-8x+7<3x+8
-1<11x
-1/11<x


The question is |8x-7| > 3x+8, your sign is wrong.
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Given that \(| 8x − 7 | > 3x + 8\) and we need to find the range of values of x to solve the problem

Let's solve the problem using two method

Method 1: Substitution

\(| 8x − 7 | > 3x + 8\) let's substitute values in the range of each answer choice and check if it satisfies the equation

A. \(1 < x < 3 \) Let's take x = 2 and substitute in \(| 8x − 7 | > 3x + 8\)
=> \(| 8*2 − 7 | > 3*2 + 8\)
=> | 16 - 7| > 6 + 8
=> | 9 | > 14
Which is FALSE. So, NOT POSSIBLE

B. \(− 1 < x < 0 \) Let's take x = -0.5 and substitute in \(| 8x − 7 | > 3x + 8\)
=> \(| 8*(-0.5) − 7 | > 3*(-0.5) + 8\)
=> | -4 - 7| > -1.5 + 8
=> | -11 | > 6.5
=> 11 > 6.5
Which is TRUE. So, POSSIBLE

C. \(2 < x < 4 \) Let's take x = 3.5 and substitute in \(| 8x − 7 | > 3x + 8\)
=> \(| 8*3.5 − 7 | > 3*3.5 + 8\)
=> | 28 - 7| > 10.5 + 8
=> | 21 | > 18.5
=> 21 > 18.5
Which is TRUE. So, POSSIBLE

D. \(x = 3.5 \). same as option C

E. \(x = − 1\) Let's take x = -1 and substitute in \(| 8x − 7 | > 3x + 8\)
=> \(| 8*(-1) − 7 | > 3*(-1) + 8\)
=> | -8 - 7| > -3 + 8
=> | -15 | > 5
=> 15 > 55
Which is TRUE. So, POSSIBLE

Method 2: Algebra

To solve this we need to open |8x - 7| and we can do that by taking two cases

To solve this we need to open |8x - 7| and we can do that by taking two cases
-Case 1: 8x - 7 >= 0 => x >= \(\frac{7}{8}\) ( ~0.875)

Since, 8x - 7 >= 0 => | 8x - 7 | = 8x - 7
=> 8x - 7 > 3x + 8
=> 8x - 3x > 8 + 7
=> 5x > 15
=> x > \(\frac{15}{5}\)
=> x > 3
Intersection of x >= 7/8 and x > 3 is x > 3
-Case 2: 8x - 7 < 0 => x < \(\frac{7}{8}\) ( ~0.875)

Since, 8x - 7 < 0 => | 8x - 7 | = -(8x - 7) = -8x + 7
=> -8x + 7 > 3x + 8
=> -8x - 3x > 8 - 7
=> -11x > 1
=> x < \(\frac{-1}{11}\) (= -0.09)

Intersection of x < 7/8 and x < \(\frac{-1}{11}\) is x < \(\frac{-1}{11}\)

So, x < \(\frac{-1}{11}\) or x > 3 is the solution range

Let's look at the answer choices now

A. \(1 < x < 3 \) => NOT POSSIBLE, as it is not in the range of x < \(\frac{-1}{11}\) or x > 3 is the solution range

B. \(− 1 < x < 0 \) => Could be true as x < \(\frac{-1}{11}\) and part of \(− 1 < x < 0 \) lies in this range

C. \(2 < x < 4 \) => Could be true as x > 3 and part of \(2 < x < 4 \) lies in this range

D. \(x = 3.5 \) => TRUE as x > 3 is one range

E. \(x = − 1\) => TRUE as x< \(\frac{-1}{11}\) is one range

So, Answer will be A
Hope it helps!

Watch the following video to learn the Basics of Absolute Values

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Why did flip the sign in the 2nd scenario?
CrackverbalGMAT
Bunuel
If \(| 8x − 7 | > 3x + 8\), then each of the following could be true EXCEPT[:

A. \(1 < x < 3 \)

B. \(− 1 < x < 0 \)

C. \(2 < x < 4 \)

D. \(x = 3.5 \)

E. \(x = − 1\)


Opening the modulus, we have -(3x + 8) > 8x - 7 > 3x + 8


Solving for Right Hand side

8x - 7 > 3x + 8
8x - 3x > 15
5x > 15
x > 3


Solving for Left Hand side

8x - 7 < -(3x + 8)
8x + 3x < -8 + 7
11x < -1
x < -1/11 or 0.09


The same is depicted on the number line below.


All Options other than A are in the shaded region.


Option A

Arun Kumar
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Mehakgyl
Why did flip the sign in the 2nd scenario?
Check the Method 2 which i explained above in my solution. Its easier to take that as

-(8x - 7) > 3x + 8 as the second case and solve.
Hope it helps!
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