Carcass wrote:
If |x + 1| = 2|x - 1|, what is the sum of the roots?
A. 4
B. 6
C. 8
D. 20/3
E. 10/3
Kudos for the right answer and explanation
Question part of the project GRE Quantitative Reasoning Daily Challenge - (2021) EDITIONGRE - Math BookThere are 3 steps to solving equations involving ABSOLUTE VALUE:
1. Apply the rule that says:
If |x| = k, then x = k and/or x = -k2. Solve the resulting equations
3. Plug solutions into original equation to check for extraneous roots
Given: |x+1|=2|x-1|
So, EITHER
x+1=2(x-1) OR
x+1=-[2(x-1)]x+1=2(x-1) Expand: x + 1 = 2x - 2
Solve:
x = 3x+1=-[2(x-1)]Expand: x + 1 = -2x + 2
Solve:
x = 1/3When we plug the solutions into the original equation, we find that there are no extraneous roots
So, the SUM of the solutions =
3 +
1/3= 3 1/3
= 10/3
Answer: E