Question

Solve each absolute value equation.

|x - 3| = 1

Okay here is what I did:

x - 3 = 1

x = 4 or x = -4

The book says {2,4}

I'm very lost. Can someone help me?

Answers

|x-3| = 1

Because of the absolute value, x-3 can equal 1 or - 1.

x-3 = 1 or x-3 = -1
x = ?
Ah I see, but I thought that an absolute value cannot equal a negative number. Maybe I'm just over thinking it.
To eliminate the absolute value you must consider the possibilities that the contents of the absolute value were positive or negative.

The absolute value cannot equal a negative - you will notice that while |x-3| = 1, x-3 = 1 or -1

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