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Re: If |x + 1| = 2|x - 1|, what is the sum of the roots? [#permalink]
Does it work both ways? If I take 2|x-1|= +- |x+1| will I get the same answer?

GreenlightTestPrep wrote:
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


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Question part of the project GRE Quantitative Reasoning Daily Challenge - (2021) EDITION
GRE - Math Book

There are 3 steps to solving equations involving ABSOLUTE VALUE:
1. Apply the rule that says: If |x| = k, then x = k and/or x = -k
2. 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 = 3

x+1=-[2(x-1)]
Expand: x + 1 = -2x + 2
Solve: x = 1/3

When 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
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Re: If |x + 1| = 2|x - 1|, what is the sum of the roots? [#permalink]
Chaithraln2499 wrote:
Does it work both ways? If I take 2|x-1|= +- |x+1| will I get the same answer?


Yes it works both ways.

In general, we can write: If |x| = |y| then we must consider two options:
1) x = y
2) x = -y OR -x = y (both equations are considered equivalent, so it doesn't matter which one you choose to work with)
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Re: If |x + 1| = 2|x - 1|, what is the sum of the roots? [#permalink]
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Re: If |x + 1| = 2|x - 1|, what is the sum of the roots? [#permalink]
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