Answer:
Step-by-step explanation:
This is our absolute value equation for which we want the values of x that make it true:
-5 | x + 1 | + 3 = -12. Subtracting 3 from both sides gives us
-5 | x + 1 | = = -15. Divide both sides by -5 to get
| x + 1 | = 3
This says, in words, "how many units from 3 is -1 on a number line?"
We have the following 2 equations:
x + 1 = 3 and x + 1 = -3
Solving the first one for x:
x = 2
Solving the second one for x:
x = -4
Both 2 and -4 are 3 units from -1 on a number line.
