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Advanced Math · Absolute Value Equations

SAT Absolute Value Equations Practice Questions (Free + Explanations) | Quiz 4

Question 12345 of 5

Question 1 of 5

The equation has two solutions. What is the sum of those solutions?

Explanation

Since , the value of is units away from . So the two solutions are and . Their sum is .

Concept summary

An equation of the form means is units from , so the solutions are and .

Question 2 of 5

On the coordinate plane, the graph of passes through the point . What is one possible value of ?

Explanation

Since is on the graph of , substitute and to get . This means or , so or . One possible value is .

Concept summary

For a point on the graph of an absolute value function, substitute the coordinates into the equation and solve the resulting absolute value equation.

Question 3 of 5

For real numbers and , suppose the system

has a solution. What is the value of for that solution?

Explanation

Because both expressions equal , set them equal to each other:

Now solve by cases.

If , then . So

which gives

Then

So

If , then . So

which simplifies to , impossible. Therefore the only solution is , and the value of is .

Concept summary

In a system involving an absolute value expression, set the two expressions for the same variable equal and solve by cases, then use the valid solution to answer the question asked.

Question 4 of 5

The table shows several points on the graph of the equation .

What is the value of ?

Explanation

For an equation of the form , the graph is a V-shape with vertex at . In the table, the smallest value of is , and it occurs when . Also, the values are symmetric: at and , and at and . That means the axis of symmetry is , so the vertex is at . Therefore, .

Concept summary

In , the value of is the x-coordinate of the vertex, which can be found from the minimum point or from symmetry in a table of values.

Question 5 of 5

A real number satisfies the equation

for exactly one real value of . Which statement must be true?

Explanation

For an equation of the form , the left side is a distance from to , so it can never be negative. If , then there are two solutions: one value of that is units to the left of and one value that is units to the right of . If , there are no real solutions. The only way the equation has exactly one real solution is when the distance is , which happens at . Therefore, must be .

Concept summary

An absolute value equation has two solutions when , one solution when , and no real solution when .

Your results

0of 5 correct

Estimated SAT Math band

500-550

Illustrative range from this short quiz—not an official College Board score.

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Your results

1of 5 correct

Estimated SAT Math band

500-550

Illustrative range from this short quiz—not an official College Board score.

Adaptive practice, weak-area review, and timed tests live in the MCQsLearn app—pick up where you left off on your phone.

More SAT Math practice

Your results

2of 5 correct

Estimated SAT Math band

600-650

Illustrative range from this short quiz—not an official College Board score.

Adaptive practice, weak-area review, and timed tests live in the MCQsLearn app—pick up where you left off on your phone.

More SAT Math practice

Your results

3of 5 correct

Estimated SAT Math band

600-650

Illustrative range from this short quiz—not an official College Board score.

Adaptive practice, weak-area review, and timed tests live in the MCQsLearn app—pick up where you left off on your phone.

More SAT Math practice

Your results

4of 5 correct

Estimated SAT Math band

700+

Illustrative range from this short quiz—not an official College Board score.

Adaptive practice, weak-area review, and timed tests live in the MCQsLearn app—pick up where you left off on your phone.

More SAT Math practice

Your results

5of 5 correct

Estimated SAT Math band

700+

Illustrative range from this short quiz—not an official College Board score.

Adaptive practice, weak-area review, and timed tests live in the MCQsLearn app—pick up where you left off on your phone.

More SAT Math practice