Solving this absolute value equation by graphing?

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Here's the equation: \({|x+3 |} = 2\)

I made a table of values (this is not obviously correct):

(-3, 2)

(-2, 1)

(-1, 0)

(0, -1)

and plotting them on a graph, it gave me a slanting line.

However, I used desmos to graph \({|x+3 |} = 2\) and I got two verticle lines...

What did I do wrong?

Guest May 6, 2018

edited by Guest May 6, 2018

GYanggg · Answer 1 · 2018-05-06T07:16:37

Desmos is correct.

\(|x+3|=2 \\\text{should not be a slanted line because both} \\(x+3) \text{and}-(x+3) \text{is equal to 2} \)

To solve:

\((x+3)=2 \\ x=-1\)

\(-(x+3)=2 \\ -x-3=2 \\ -x=5 \\ x=-5\)

Two vertical lines, x = -1, and x = -5 is the graph of your equation.