can you say this as if you where explaning it to me

To determine the answer to the equation |a| - 3/4 = -5/8, we must solve it step by step, resulting in the possibility of either one-eighth (1/8) or negative one-eighth (-1/8) as the answer.

1 answer

Sure! To solve the equation |a| - 3/4 = -5/8, we need to follow a step-by-step process. The equation involves the absolute value, which means we need to consider both the positive and negative values of a.

First, we isolate the absolute value term by adding 3/4 to both sides of the equation. This gives us |a| = -5/8 + 3/4.

Next, we simplify the right side of the equation. -5/8 + 3/4 is the same as -5/8 + 6/8, which equals 1/8.

Now that the absolute value is on its own, we consider two possibilities for a.

In the first scenario, a equals 1/8. Substituting this value into the equation, we get |1/8| - 3/4 = -5/8. Simplifying, 1/8 - 3/4 is the same as 1/8 - 6/8, which equals -5/8. So, a = 1/8 is a valid solution.

In the second scenario, a equals -1/8. Plugging this into the equation, we have |-1/8| - 3/4 = -5/8. Here, the absolute value of -1/8 is 1/8. Therefore, we get 1/8 - 3/4, which equals -5/8. Hence, a = -1/8 is also a valid solution.

Therefore, after going through the step-by-step process, we find that the answer to the equation is either one-eighth (1/8) or negative one-eighth (-1/8).