letâstakealookathowtodealwithequationsforwhichbiszeroornegative.Weâlldothiswithanexample.Example2Solveeachofthefollowing.(a)j10x3j=0(b)j5x+9j=3Solution(a)j10x3j=0Letâsapproachthisonefromageometricstandpoint.Thisissayingthatthequantityintheabsolutevaluebarshasadistanceofzerofromtheorigin.Thereisonlyonenumberthathasthepropertyandthatiszeroitself.So
wemusthave
10×3=0)x=310©PaulDawkinsAlgebraâ162â