Solve for a
heres the equation: | a – 7 | = 4
2007-03-17 05:45:03 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
This becomes two problems: a-7=4 and a-7=-4
The first has solution a=11, the second has solution a=3.
2007-03-17 06:06:18 · answer #1 · answered by bruinfan 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok it is not that hard and I am in 7th grade!
So those to lines on the sides of a and -7 mean absolute value and that means how far away from 0 it is so all it is, is the same number.
so you have |a-7|=4
so you need to get the a by it's self so since it is a negative 7 you add 7 to both sides!
|a-7|=4
+7 +7
|a|=11
so since the absolute value is the same # it is 11!
I love doing math and especially algebra so if you have any other questions just come to me!
2007-03-17 16:58:27 · answer #2 · answered by Delaney F 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Split this into two cases.
If a>=7 then your equation is a-7 = 4
If a<7 then your equation is -(a-7) = 4
For the first equation to be true, a must equal 11.
For the second equation to be true, a must equal 3.
You have two valid answers: 3 and 11.
2007-03-17 13:08:55 · answer #3 · answered by Bramblyspam 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One way to do this is to square both sides as you can then remove the modulus sign because the square must be positive. So (a - 7)^2 = 16. Multiply out and solve the quadratic equation.
You only wanted a hint. You didn't want me to do it all for you, did you?
2007-03-17 13:07:42 · answer #4 · answered by mathsmanretired 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
|a - 7| = 4
a - 7 = 4
a - 7 + 7 = 4 + 7
a = 11
- - - - - - - -s-
2007-03-17 14:00:55 · answer #5 · answered by SAMUEL D 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋