standard_description: Rewrite simple rational expressions in different forms; write a(x)/b(x) in the form q(x) + r(x)/b(x), where a(x), b(x), q(x), and r(x) are polynomials with the degree of r(x) less than the degree of b(x), using inspection, long division, or, for the more complicated examples, a computer algebra system.
problem_activity: Problem 1
Consider the equation
$${ {|x|=5}}$$
.
This can be thought of as a system of equations, where
$${f(x)=\left | x \right |}$$
$${{g(x)}=5}$$
and
$${f(x)={g(x)}}$$
Graph
$${f(x) }$$
and
$${g(x)}$$
in the coordinate plane. Based on the graph, what are the solutions to
$${|x|=5}$$
?
Problem 2
For each absolute value equation below, answer the questions that follow.
$${|x|=-4}$$
$${ |x|=0}$$
$${ |x|=4}$$
How many solutions are there for
$$x$$
in each equation?
Thinking of each equation as two equal functions (similar to Anchor Problem #1), what does each one look like in the coordinate plane? Where do you see the solution(s)?
Problem 3
Solve each absolute value equation algebraically and verify the solution graphically.
$${|x+2|=8}$$
$${|x|+2=8}$$
$${|x+2|+1=0}$$


aligns: no