Quote:
What is the distance between x-intercepts of the graph of the equation y = 2|4x – 4| – 10?
A. -2
B. -1/4
C. 2
D. 5/2
E. 9/4
Since the expression is an absolute value expression, two values of x can satisfy the expression when it is equated to zero.
Why do we equate the expression to zero? Because we are trying to find the x-intercepts of the equation.
Graphically, the x-intercept is the point on the x-axis where the line/curve representing an equation intersects the x-axis. Therefore, at this point, the value of y is equal to zero.
Equating the expression to zero, we have 2|4x – 4| – 10 = 0
2 |4x – 4| = 10
|4x – 4| = 5
This means that 4x – 4 = 5 or 4x – 4 = -5.
Therefore, x = \(\frac{9}{4}\) or x = -\(\frac{1}{4}\)
So, the graph of the equation, y = 2|4x -4| -10 intersects the x-axis at (-\(\frac{1}{4}\), 0) and (\(\frac{9}{4}\),0).
The distance between the x-intercepts = \(\frac{9}{4}\) – (-\(\frac{1}{4}\)) = \(\frac{10 }{4}\) = \(\frac{5}{2}\).
The correct answer option is D.