Sometimes,  these guys start out messier:

Solve 3 | x - 2 | - 10 = 11

We just have to get the blob alone first -- then it will be like the others...

3 | x - 2 | - 10 = 11 ... just pretend the | x - 2 | is one big variable ... add 10 to both sides ... 3 | x - 2 | = 21 ... divide both sides by 3 ... | x - 2 | = 7

I'll let your finish it off.

 


TRY IT:

Solve 2 | 3x + 4 | + 5 = 16

 


One last thing on these:

See anything wrong with this guy?

| x | = -2

Oh, you can find an answer...  but, it would be wrong.  Just as wrong as picking your nose in public.

Why?

| x | = -2

       Because this is a distance!                     And this is negative!

Ever heard of a negative distance?