Solve for x 4|x|-20=0

$4 | x | - 20 = 0$

Step 1

Add $20$ to both sides of the equation.

$4 | x | = 20$

Step 2

Divide each term in $4 | x | = 20$ by $4$ and simplify.

Divide each term in $4 | x | = 20$ by $4$ .

$\frac{4 | x |}{4} = \frac{20}{4}$

Simplify the left side.

Cancel the common factor of $4$ .

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{4 | x |}{4} = \frac{20}{4}$

Divide $| x |$ by $1$ .

$| x | = \frac{20}{4}$

Simplify the right side.

Divide $20$ by $4$ .

$| x | = 5$

Step 3

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

$x = \pm 5$

Step 4

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.

$x = 5$

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

$x = - 5$

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

$x = 5, - 5$