How can I solve this absolute value equation?












2












$begingroup$


This is the equation:



$|sqrt{x-1} - 2| + |sqrt{x-1} - 3| = 1$



Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!










share|cite|improve this question







New contributor




Jill and Jill is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    What did you try? For example, transfer one of the terms on the left to the right and then square both sides.
    $endgroup$
    – астон вілла олоф мэллбэрг
    2 days ago


















2












$begingroup$


This is the equation:



$|sqrt{x-1} - 2| + |sqrt{x-1} - 3| = 1$



Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!










share|cite|improve this question







New contributor




Jill and Jill is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    What did you try? For example, transfer one of the terms on the left to the right and then square both sides.
    $endgroup$
    – астон вілла олоф мэллбэрг
    2 days ago
















2












2








2


1



$begingroup$


This is the equation:



$|sqrt{x-1} - 2| + |sqrt{x-1} - 3| = 1$



Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!










share|cite|improve this question







New contributor




Jill and Jill is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$




This is the equation:



$|sqrt{x-1} - 2| + |sqrt{x-1} - 3| = 1$



Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!







algebra-precalculus radicals absolute-value






share|cite|improve this question







New contributor




Jill and Jill is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|cite|improve this question







New contributor




Jill and Jill is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question






New contributor




Jill and Jill is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









asked 2 days ago









Jill and JillJill and Jill

303




303




New contributor




Jill and Jill is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





New contributor





Jill and Jill is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Jill and Jill is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    What did you try? For example, transfer one of the terms on the left to the right and then square both sides.
    $endgroup$
    – астон вілла олоф мэллбэрг
    2 days ago
















  • 1




    $begingroup$
    What did you try? For example, transfer one of the terms on the left to the right and then square both sides.
    $endgroup$
    – астон вілла олоф мэллбэрг
    2 days ago










1




1




$begingroup$
What did you try? For example, transfer one of the terms on the left to the right and then square both sides.
$endgroup$
– астон вілла олоф мэллбэрг
2 days ago






$begingroup$
What did you try? For example, transfer one of the terms on the left to the right and then square both sides.
$endgroup$
– астон вілла олоф мэллбэрг
2 days ago












2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















3












$begingroup$

Let $a =sqrt{x-1}$,



$|a-2|+|a-3|=1$



Check for solutions in the different regions for $a$.



Region 1: $a<2$.
Then we have $(2-a)+(3-a)=1$, i.e. $5-2a=1$, so that $a=2$.
Region 2: $2leq aleq 3$. We have $(a-2)+(3-a)=1$. This is true for every such $a$.



Final region 3: $3<a$. We have $(a-2)+(a-3)=1$ so that $a=3$.



In summary, $2 leq sqrt{x-1} leq 3$.



Thus $5 leq x leq 10$.






share|cite|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    I think you have the equation wrong. There should be a one on the right side not a three.
    $endgroup$
    – Shervin Sorouri
    2 days ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    yeah it's being sorted
    $endgroup$
    – George Dewhirst
    2 days ago










  • $begingroup$
    For region $(1)$ we must have $(2-a)+(3-a) = 1.$ Same for region $(2)$.
    $endgroup$
    – Dbchatto67
    2 days ago





















2












$begingroup$

Let $x$ be a solution of the equation. Notice $x geq 1$, since $sqrt{x-1}$ has its domain as $x geq 1$.



If $x geq 10$, then each of the absolute value is just the term inside (i.e.$|sqrt{x-1}-2| = sqrt{x-1}-2$ and similarly $|sqrt{x-1}-3| =sqrt{x-1}-3$) so that the given equation in this case becomes $2sqrt{x-1}-5=1$. Solve for $x$ you get $x=10$. Thus we have shown that IF there is a solution that is greater than or equal to $10$ then $x$ must be $10$; we have not yet proven that $10$ is a solution. However, we can check that $x=10$ is a solution by plugging it back in.



If $10 > x geq 5$ then $|sqrt{x-1}-2| = sqrt{x-1}-2$ and $|sqrt{x-1}-3| =-sqrt{x-1}+3$ so that the given equation becomes (after simplification) $1=1$; this does not give us a new information, but we can check that any number $x$ such that $10 > x geq 5$ satisfies the original equation.



If $5 > x geq 1$ then $|sqrt{x-1}-2| = -sqrt{x-1}+2$ and $|sqrt{x-1}-3| = -sqrt{x-1}+3$, so that the given equation becomes (after simplification) $sqrt{x-1}=2$, implying $x=5$, contradicting our assumption that $5 > x$. Thus, there cannot be any solution in this case.



Hence, the solution are $5 leq x leq 10$.



In general, any time you see an absolute value in a given equation, it's a good idea to divide into cases according to whether each expression in an absolute value is negative or non-negative.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$














    Your Answer





    StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
    return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
    StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
    StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
    });
    });
    }, "mathjax-editing");

    StackExchange.ready(function() {
    var channelOptions = {
    tags: "".split(" "),
    id: "69"
    };
    initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

    StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
    // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
    if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
    StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
    createEditor();
    });
    }
    else {
    createEditor();
    }
    });

    function createEditor() {
    StackExchange.prepareEditor({
    heartbeatType: 'answer',
    autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
    convertImagesToLinks: true,
    noModals: true,
    showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
    reputationToPostImages: 10,
    bindNavPrevention: true,
    postfix: "",
    imageUploader: {
    brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
    contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
    allowUrls: true
    },
    noCode: true, onDemand: true,
    discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
    ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
    });


    }
    });






    Jill and Jill is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










    draft saved

    draft discarded


















    StackExchange.ready(
    function () {
    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3175596%2fhow-can-i-solve-this-absolute-value-equation%23new-answer', 'question_page');
    }
    );

    Post as a guest















    Required, but never shown

























    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    3












    $begingroup$

    Let $a =sqrt{x-1}$,



    $|a-2|+|a-3|=1$



    Check for solutions in the different regions for $a$.



    Region 1: $a<2$.
    Then we have $(2-a)+(3-a)=1$, i.e. $5-2a=1$, so that $a=2$.
    Region 2: $2leq aleq 3$. We have $(a-2)+(3-a)=1$. This is true for every such $a$.



    Final region 3: $3<a$. We have $(a-2)+(a-3)=1$ so that $a=3$.



    In summary, $2 leq sqrt{x-1} leq 3$.



    Thus $5 leq x leq 10$.






    share|cite|improve this answer











    $endgroup$













    • $begingroup$
      I think you have the equation wrong. There should be a one on the right side not a three.
      $endgroup$
      – Shervin Sorouri
      2 days ago






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      yeah it's being sorted
      $endgroup$
      – George Dewhirst
      2 days ago










    • $begingroup$
      For region $(1)$ we must have $(2-a)+(3-a) = 1.$ Same for region $(2)$.
      $endgroup$
      – Dbchatto67
      2 days ago


















    3












    $begingroup$

    Let $a =sqrt{x-1}$,



    $|a-2|+|a-3|=1$



    Check for solutions in the different regions for $a$.



    Region 1: $a<2$.
    Then we have $(2-a)+(3-a)=1$, i.e. $5-2a=1$, so that $a=2$.
    Region 2: $2leq aleq 3$. We have $(a-2)+(3-a)=1$. This is true for every such $a$.



    Final region 3: $3<a$. We have $(a-2)+(a-3)=1$ so that $a=3$.



    In summary, $2 leq sqrt{x-1} leq 3$.



    Thus $5 leq x leq 10$.






    share|cite|improve this answer











    $endgroup$













    • $begingroup$
      I think you have the equation wrong. There should be a one on the right side not a three.
      $endgroup$
      – Shervin Sorouri
      2 days ago






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      yeah it's being sorted
      $endgroup$
      – George Dewhirst
      2 days ago










    • $begingroup$
      For region $(1)$ we must have $(2-a)+(3-a) = 1.$ Same for region $(2)$.
      $endgroup$
      – Dbchatto67
      2 days ago
















    3












    3








    3





    $begingroup$

    Let $a =sqrt{x-1}$,



    $|a-2|+|a-3|=1$



    Check for solutions in the different regions for $a$.



    Region 1: $a<2$.
    Then we have $(2-a)+(3-a)=1$, i.e. $5-2a=1$, so that $a=2$.
    Region 2: $2leq aleq 3$. We have $(a-2)+(3-a)=1$. This is true for every such $a$.



    Final region 3: $3<a$. We have $(a-2)+(a-3)=1$ so that $a=3$.



    In summary, $2 leq sqrt{x-1} leq 3$.



    Thus $5 leq x leq 10$.






    share|cite|improve this answer











    $endgroup$



    Let $a =sqrt{x-1}$,



    $|a-2|+|a-3|=1$



    Check for solutions in the different regions for $a$.



    Region 1: $a<2$.
    Then we have $(2-a)+(3-a)=1$, i.e. $5-2a=1$, so that $a=2$.
    Region 2: $2leq aleq 3$. We have $(a-2)+(3-a)=1$. This is true for every such $a$.



    Final region 3: $3<a$. We have $(a-2)+(a-3)=1$ so that $a=3$.



    In summary, $2 leq sqrt{x-1} leq 3$.



    Thus $5 leq x leq 10$.







    share|cite|improve this answer














    share|cite|improve this answer



    share|cite|improve this answer








    edited 2 days ago

























    answered 2 days ago









    George DewhirstGeorge Dewhirst

    7514




    7514












    • $begingroup$
      I think you have the equation wrong. There should be a one on the right side not a three.
      $endgroup$
      – Shervin Sorouri
      2 days ago






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      yeah it's being sorted
      $endgroup$
      – George Dewhirst
      2 days ago










    • $begingroup$
      For region $(1)$ we must have $(2-a)+(3-a) = 1.$ Same for region $(2)$.
      $endgroup$
      – Dbchatto67
      2 days ago




















    • $begingroup$
      I think you have the equation wrong. There should be a one on the right side not a three.
      $endgroup$
      – Shervin Sorouri
      2 days ago






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      yeah it's being sorted
      $endgroup$
      – George Dewhirst
      2 days ago










    • $begingroup$
      For region $(1)$ we must have $(2-a)+(3-a) = 1.$ Same for region $(2)$.
      $endgroup$
      – Dbchatto67
      2 days ago


















    $begingroup$
    I think you have the equation wrong. There should be a one on the right side not a three.
    $endgroup$
    – Shervin Sorouri
    2 days ago




    $begingroup$
    I think you have the equation wrong. There should be a one on the right side not a three.
    $endgroup$
    – Shervin Sorouri
    2 days ago




    1




    1




    $begingroup$
    yeah it's being sorted
    $endgroup$
    – George Dewhirst
    2 days ago




    $begingroup$
    yeah it's being sorted
    $endgroup$
    – George Dewhirst
    2 days ago












    $begingroup$
    For region $(1)$ we must have $(2-a)+(3-a) = 1.$ Same for region $(2)$.
    $endgroup$
    – Dbchatto67
    2 days ago






    $begingroup$
    For region $(1)$ we must have $(2-a)+(3-a) = 1.$ Same for region $(2)$.
    $endgroup$
    – Dbchatto67
    2 days ago













    2












    $begingroup$

    Let $x$ be a solution of the equation. Notice $x geq 1$, since $sqrt{x-1}$ has its domain as $x geq 1$.



    If $x geq 10$, then each of the absolute value is just the term inside (i.e.$|sqrt{x-1}-2| = sqrt{x-1}-2$ and similarly $|sqrt{x-1}-3| =sqrt{x-1}-3$) so that the given equation in this case becomes $2sqrt{x-1}-5=1$. Solve for $x$ you get $x=10$. Thus we have shown that IF there is a solution that is greater than or equal to $10$ then $x$ must be $10$; we have not yet proven that $10$ is a solution. However, we can check that $x=10$ is a solution by plugging it back in.



    If $10 > x geq 5$ then $|sqrt{x-1}-2| = sqrt{x-1}-2$ and $|sqrt{x-1}-3| =-sqrt{x-1}+3$ so that the given equation becomes (after simplification) $1=1$; this does not give us a new information, but we can check that any number $x$ such that $10 > x geq 5$ satisfies the original equation.



    If $5 > x geq 1$ then $|sqrt{x-1}-2| = -sqrt{x-1}+2$ and $|sqrt{x-1}-3| = -sqrt{x-1}+3$, so that the given equation becomes (after simplification) $sqrt{x-1}=2$, implying $x=5$, contradicting our assumption that $5 > x$. Thus, there cannot be any solution in this case.



    Hence, the solution are $5 leq x leq 10$.



    In general, any time you see an absolute value in a given equation, it's a good idea to divide into cases according to whether each expression in an absolute value is negative or non-negative.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$


















      2












      $begingroup$

      Let $x$ be a solution of the equation. Notice $x geq 1$, since $sqrt{x-1}$ has its domain as $x geq 1$.



      If $x geq 10$, then each of the absolute value is just the term inside (i.e.$|sqrt{x-1}-2| = sqrt{x-1}-2$ and similarly $|sqrt{x-1}-3| =sqrt{x-1}-3$) so that the given equation in this case becomes $2sqrt{x-1}-5=1$. Solve for $x$ you get $x=10$. Thus we have shown that IF there is a solution that is greater than or equal to $10$ then $x$ must be $10$; we have not yet proven that $10$ is a solution. However, we can check that $x=10$ is a solution by plugging it back in.



      If $10 > x geq 5$ then $|sqrt{x-1}-2| = sqrt{x-1}-2$ and $|sqrt{x-1}-3| =-sqrt{x-1}+3$ so that the given equation becomes (after simplification) $1=1$; this does not give us a new information, but we can check that any number $x$ such that $10 > x geq 5$ satisfies the original equation.



      If $5 > x geq 1$ then $|sqrt{x-1}-2| = -sqrt{x-1}+2$ and $|sqrt{x-1}-3| = -sqrt{x-1}+3$, so that the given equation becomes (after simplification) $sqrt{x-1}=2$, implying $x=5$, contradicting our assumption that $5 > x$. Thus, there cannot be any solution in this case.



      Hence, the solution are $5 leq x leq 10$.



      In general, any time you see an absolute value in a given equation, it's a good idea to divide into cases according to whether each expression in an absolute value is negative or non-negative.






      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$
















        2












        2








        2





        $begingroup$

        Let $x$ be a solution of the equation. Notice $x geq 1$, since $sqrt{x-1}$ has its domain as $x geq 1$.



        If $x geq 10$, then each of the absolute value is just the term inside (i.e.$|sqrt{x-1}-2| = sqrt{x-1}-2$ and similarly $|sqrt{x-1}-3| =sqrt{x-1}-3$) so that the given equation in this case becomes $2sqrt{x-1}-5=1$. Solve for $x$ you get $x=10$. Thus we have shown that IF there is a solution that is greater than or equal to $10$ then $x$ must be $10$; we have not yet proven that $10$ is a solution. However, we can check that $x=10$ is a solution by plugging it back in.



        If $10 > x geq 5$ then $|sqrt{x-1}-2| = sqrt{x-1}-2$ and $|sqrt{x-1}-3| =-sqrt{x-1}+3$ so that the given equation becomes (after simplification) $1=1$; this does not give us a new information, but we can check that any number $x$ such that $10 > x geq 5$ satisfies the original equation.



        If $5 > x geq 1$ then $|sqrt{x-1}-2| = -sqrt{x-1}+2$ and $|sqrt{x-1}-3| = -sqrt{x-1}+3$, so that the given equation becomes (after simplification) $sqrt{x-1}=2$, implying $x=5$, contradicting our assumption that $5 > x$. Thus, there cannot be any solution in this case.



        Hence, the solution are $5 leq x leq 10$.



        In general, any time you see an absolute value in a given equation, it's a good idea to divide into cases according to whether each expression in an absolute value is negative or non-negative.






        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$



        Let $x$ be a solution of the equation. Notice $x geq 1$, since $sqrt{x-1}$ has its domain as $x geq 1$.



        If $x geq 10$, then each of the absolute value is just the term inside (i.e.$|sqrt{x-1}-2| = sqrt{x-1}-2$ and similarly $|sqrt{x-1}-3| =sqrt{x-1}-3$) so that the given equation in this case becomes $2sqrt{x-1}-5=1$. Solve for $x$ you get $x=10$. Thus we have shown that IF there is a solution that is greater than or equal to $10$ then $x$ must be $10$; we have not yet proven that $10$ is a solution. However, we can check that $x=10$ is a solution by plugging it back in.



        If $10 > x geq 5$ then $|sqrt{x-1}-2| = sqrt{x-1}-2$ and $|sqrt{x-1}-3| =-sqrt{x-1}+3$ so that the given equation becomes (after simplification) $1=1$; this does not give us a new information, but we can check that any number $x$ such that $10 > x geq 5$ satisfies the original equation.



        If $5 > x geq 1$ then $|sqrt{x-1}-2| = -sqrt{x-1}+2$ and $|sqrt{x-1}-3| = -sqrt{x-1}+3$, so that the given equation becomes (after simplification) $sqrt{x-1}=2$, implying $x=5$, contradicting our assumption that $5 > x$. Thus, there cannot be any solution in this case.



        Hence, the solution are $5 leq x leq 10$.



        In general, any time you see an absolute value in a given equation, it's a good idea to divide into cases according to whether each expression in an absolute value is negative or non-negative.







        share|cite|improve this answer












        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer










        answered 2 days ago









        Cute BrownieCute Brownie

        1,085417




        1,085417






















            Jill and Jill is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










            draft saved

            draft discarded


















            Jill and Jill is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.













            Jill and Jill is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.












            Jill and Jill is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
















            Thanks for contributing an answer to Mathematics Stack Exchange!


            • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

            But avoid



            • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

            • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


            Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.


            To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




            draft saved


            draft discarded














            StackExchange.ready(
            function () {
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3175596%2fhow-can-i-solve-this-absolute-value-equation%23new-answer', 'question_page');
            }
            );

            Post as a guest















            Required, but never shown





















































            Required, but never shown














            Required, but never shown












            Required, but never shown







            Required, but never shown

































            Required, but never shown














            Required, but never shown












            Required, but never shown







            Required, but never shown







            Popular posts from this blog

            How did Captain America manage to do this?

            迪纳利

            南乌拉尔铁路局