These problems include equations that contain any form of an absolute value expression. The absolute value just signifies the distance the value is from zero on a number line. You can easily identify this in an equation or expression because the value is encased in the symbol (| |). I tell my students to look for the train tracks. If an expression is found inside the train tracks the solution has two solutions. That would be the positive and negative form of the solution. I usually encourage students to start by breaking the one problem into two. Solve one form running with the positive value and the other gets treated as if the value is negative. If the end value of the stated expression is less than zero, the equation has no solution. This is because an absolute value cannot be negative. We will also learn how to express these values on a number line.

Your students will use this collection of worksheets to learn about absolute values, and how to solve algebraic equations that contain them. Multiple methods for deriving the solutions are explored, and the procedures for checking answers are presented to the student as well. It really helps to use number lines when working on this topic. Once students understand that we are just measuring how far we are from zero on the numbers line, it really starts to sink in. These worksheets will help your students learn how to solve equations involving absolute numbers.