Solve for m -|m+3|=-13

$- | m + 3 | = - 13$

Step 1

Divide each term in $- | m + 3 | = - 13$ by $- 1$ and simplify.

Divide each term in $- | m + 3 | = - 13$ by $- 1$ .

$\frac{- | m + 3 |}{- 1} = \frac{- 13}{- 1}$

Simplify the left side.

Dividing two negative values results in a positive value.

$\frac{| m + 3 |}{1} = \frac{- 13}{- 1}$

Divide $| m + 3 |$ by $1$ .

$| m + 3 | = \frac{- 13}{- 1}$

Simplify the right side.

Divide $- 13$ by $- 1$ .

$| m + 3 | = 13$

Step 2

Remove the absolute value term. This creates a $\pm$ on the right side of the equation because $| x | = \pm x$ .

$m + 3 = \pm 13$

Step 3

The complete solution is the result of both the positive and negative portions of the solution.

First, use the positive value of the $\pm$ to find the first solution.

$m + 3 = 13$

Move all terms not containing $m$ to the right side of the equation.

Subtract $3$ from both sides of the equation.

$m = 13 - 3$

Subtract $3$ from $13$ .

$m = 10$

Next, use the negative value of the $\pm$ to find the second solution.

$m + 3 = - 13$

Move all terms not containing $m$ to the right side of the equation.

Subtract $3$ from both sides of the equation.

$m = - 13 - 3$

Subtract $3$ from $- 13$ .

$m = - 16$

The complete solution is the result of both the positive and negative portions of the solution.

$m = 10, - 16$