Absolute value equation question?

Question

Solve the absolute value equation |2x - 3| = |x + 2| using your graphing calculator. Enter both x-values to the nearest hundredth.

The smaller x value is
The larger x value is

Answer 1

Hi,
The answer is: 5 and 0.33 rounded to the nearest hundreth. Actually that's 1/3 if you do it by hand,.
But your question says do it with your graphing calculator. Now, you can do that using either the Solver or by graphing. Since most students don't know how to use the Solver, I'll opt for graphing. If you want to use the solver, you can find out how to use it on my website. I'll give you the URL later.
Here's how to use using the graph:
a) Press Y= and oppostie Y1= enter abs(2x-3)-abs(x+2)
You enter abs by pressing MATH, cursoring to NUM, and pressing, ENTER.
b) Press ENTER and the expression will be graphed.
Now, we want to find the zeros. You could use TRACE, but it's more accurate to do it using Calc and Zero.
c) Press 2ND, TRACE (that selects CALC), 2 (that selects zero)and a blinking cursor will appear on the graph. Press ENTER; then move the cursor past the point where the graph crosses the x-axis and press ENTER again. Press ENTER again and x=.33333... y=0 will be displayed.
d) To find the second value do sept c) above except before you press ENTER the first time, move the blinking cursor slightly to the left of the point where the graph crosses the x-axis at what appears to be 5. When you've finished step c), you should have x=5 and y=0.

Here's the URL for my Website:
www.angelfire.com/pro/fkizer
Using the solver should be in the "Brief User Guide" for a TI-83 Plus.

Hope this helps.
VE

Answer 2

it shouldnt be anywhere near the nearest hundreth, its a whole number

if you solve it on paper it is |2x-3|=|x+2|
2x-3=x+2
+3 -x
x = 5

and if its on the calculator its
y1 = abs(2x-3)
y2 = abs(x+2)

and your table is

x y1 y2
4 5 6
5 7 7
6 9 8