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Absolute Value

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by pkw209 » Thu Mar 04, 2010 2:29 pm
Just a quick question about absolute values.

Example:

(1) |x + 3| = 4x - 3

Manhattan gmat says you should take the +/- of the side of the equation opposite the absolute value.

So in this case, x+3 = +(4x - 3) AND x+3 = -(4x-3)

However, kaplan says that you should take the +/- of the absolute value side.

In other words +(x+3) = 4x-3 AND -(x+3) = 4x-3.

My question is, does it matter which method you choose? It doesn't seem to matter since I get the same answer, but just want expert confirmation.

Thanks!
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by schumi_gmat » Thu Mar 04, 2010 2:50 pm
No it does not matter which side on inequality you add the signs.
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by kstv » Fri Mar 05, 2010 9:07 am
When there is a = sign like the example it doesn't matter. But I think u got to be careful when there is a > < sign.
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by hai1 » Sat Mar 06, 2010 5:38 pm
KSTV, should we use + sign if it > and - sign if it < ?
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by KapTeacherEli » Wed Mar 10, 2010 12:48 pm
Absolute values with inequalities can be weird. You will either end up with two statements which must both be true, providing a small finite range of values, or two inequalities of which only one can be true, leaving an excluded hole in the middle. My recommendation to my students is that whenever absolute values are involved in an inequality, they draw out a number line to help them visualize their work.
Eli Meyer
Kaplan GMAT Teacher
Cambridge, MA
www.kaptest.com/gmat

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