# |x-1| = 1 - x

• November 12th 2011, 10:05 AM
SweatingBear
|x-1| = 1 - x
Hey forum, I'm dealing with this one

$|x-1| = 1 - x$

I use the definition of the absolute value of an arbitrary argument which gives

$|x-1| = \{ x-1 \ , \te{ \ if \ } x-1 \geq 0 \ \Leftrightarrow \ x \geq 1 \ \ \ \ (1) \\ -(x-1) \ , \te{ \ if \ } x-1 < 0 \ \Leftrightarrow \ x < 1 \ \ \ \ (2) \\$

We see that it is true for the second condition, because

$-(x-1) = 1-x \\ -x + 1 = 1 -x \\ 1 -x = 1- x$

Therefore, the answer must be that x must be smaller than 1. But the equation is also true for x=1 ! What's up with that?
• November 12th 2011, 10:12 AM
Quacky
Re: |x-1| = 1 - x
First case:

$x-1=1-x$

$2x=2$

$x=1$

Second case:

$-(x-1)=1-x$

$-x+1=1-x$

So we get $x<{1}$ from case 2, and $x=1$ from case 1. Put them together to give the whole range of solutions and you get that $x\leq{1}$
• November 12th 2011, 10:17 AM
SweatingBear
Re: |x-1| = 1 - x
Thanks!!!
• November 12th 2011, 11:04 AM
HallsofIvy
Re: |x-1| = 1 - x
Another way of looking at it: |z| is defined as "z if $z\ge 0$, -z if z< 0".
Obviously 1- x= -(x- 1) so we must have x- 1< 0.