Modulus

Definition of the modulus

The symbol x means the size of magnitude of x . It is called the modulus of x. It is defined by

x if x  0
x 
x if x  0

Its graph is

2
y =x

x
-2 -1 O 1 2

For x  0 this is identical to the graph of y  x .

For x  0 this is the reflection of y  x in the y -axis.

Example (1)
Solve 3 x  3  5  x

Solution
This is a linear equation in x .

3 x 35 x
4x 2
1
x 
2
1 1
x or x  
2 2

In the following problem we have to remove the modulus sign at the beginning. To do this we use
the definition to split the problem into two parts.

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 Example (2)
Solve 5x  3  8

Solution
5x  3  8
either 5x  3  8 or  5x  3  8
If 5x  3  8
5x  5
x 1
If  5x  3  8
5x  3  8
5x  11
11
x 
5
11
Therefore, either x  1 or x  
5

Modulus inequalities
A modulus inequality is an inequality such as 3x  1  x  2 . Such equations are solved by the

same method as for modulus equations – by splitting the problem into two parts if necessary.
Manipulation of an inequality also obeys the usual rule that if one multiplies by a negative
number then one must reverse the sign of the inequality.

Example (3)
Solve 1  3x  x  2

Solution
1  3x  x  2
Either x  2  0 or x  2  0

i Suppose x  2  0
Then x  2 and 1  3x  x  2 implies
1  3x  x  2
4x  3
3
x
4
3
The conditions x  2 and x  cannot be simultaneously true.
4
Therefore it is not possible that x  2

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 ii Let x  2  0. Then x  2 and 1  3x  x  2 implies
1  3x    x  2
1  3x  x  2
2x  1
1
x
2
1
Hence the solution is x  
2

Intersection of modulus functions

We wish to find the points of intersection of two functions involving a modulus. By sketching the
graphs of both functions we are able to deduce equations that do not involve a modulus of the
lines (or curves) whose points of intersection are required.

Example (4)
Find the points of intersection of
1
y  x  1 and y  3  x 1
2

Solution
We begin by sketching the graphs of both functions.
For y  x  1 x 1  y  x 1 m 1 intercept  1
x 1  y  x  1 m  1 intercept  1
1 1 7 1 5
For y  3  x 1 x 1  y  x m   intercept 
2 2 2 2 2
1 5 1 7
x 1  y x m intercept 
2 2 2 2
y

1
1
y = 3  2 (x  1) y = 3 + 2 (x  1)

3
y=x1

1
y = 3 2 x  1

x
0
1

y=x1 y = x + 1

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 The graph illustrates that we have to solve
1 7
1 y  x 1 y  x
2 2
1 5
2 y  x  1 y x
2 2
For 1
1 7
x 1  x   x 3 y 2
2 2
For 2
1 5
x  1  x  x  1 y 2
2 2

The points of intersection are 3,2 and  1,2

Dealing with the modulus in the denominator of a fraction

There are two techniques that can be used to clear the modulus from the denominator of a
fraction and so bring it to the top.

(1) Use the definition to split the problem into two cases

Example (5)
The definition of the modulus is

x if x  0
x 
x if x  0

Use this definition to solve

x 1
4
x 1

Solution
i Suppose x  1 or x  1 so x  1
x 1 0
x  1  4  x  1
x 1 4 x 4
3x 5
x 5
3
x 5 or x  5
3 3

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 ii Suppose  1  x  1, so x  1
Then x  1  0
 x  1  4  x  1 [Multiplying both sides by a negative number x  1
so reverse the sign of the inequality.]
x 1 4 x  4
3x 5
x 5
3
5 x 5
3 3
But we supposed  1  x  1, so the inequality is satisfied when  1  x  1

Combining the two inequalities

x  5 or x  5 or  1  x  1
3 3

2
(2) Use the property x  x 2 since the square of any number is always positive.

Example (6)

2 x 1
Use the property x  x 2 to solve  4.
x 1

Solution
x 1
4
x 1

x  1 x  1  4  x  1
2


x2  1  4 x2  2 x  1 
x  1  4x  8 x  4
2 2

8 x  3x 2  5

 
2
64x 2  3x 2  5
64x 2  9x 4  30x 2  25
9x 4  34x 2  25  0
34  342  4  9  25
x2 
18
34  16
x 
2

18
x 
2 25 or x 2  1
9
x   5 or x  1
3

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 The graph of y  9x 4  34x 2  25 has roots at x   5 or x  1 . Between those roots it
3

changes sign and below x   5 it is positive. Hence it may be sketched as follows.

3

30

20

10

5 5
-
3 3
x
-2 -1 1 2

x 1
 4 when 9x 4  34x 2  25  0
x 1

That is when x   5 or x  5 or  1  x  1
3 3

Comparing the two methods: it is slightly easier to get started with the second method, but as
example (6) illustrates the subsequent algebra can get “ugly”. It is important to be aware of the
2
property x  x 2 but we recommend using the first method to solve problems of this type, which

relies on the definition of the modulus to split the problem into two sub-problems.

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