with absolute value there are to answers the positive and the negative. |x-1| positive is itself. Negative it is -(x - 1) or -x + 1. the minus 2 is carried with it. | x -1| -2 = | 2x -5 | x -1 -2 = |2x - 5| (positive) or -x + 1 -2 = |2x - 5| (x-1) (negative). x - 3 = |2x - 5| or -x -1 = |2x - 5| combined terms. now do positive and negatvie for |2x-5|: positive is 2x -5. negative is -(2x -5) or -2x + 5 there are two cases for the positive |x - 1|: positive: x - 3 = 2x - 5 or negative: x - 3 = -2x + 5 2 = x or -8 = -3x 8/3 = x now the two case for the negatvie |x -1|: or -x - 1 = 2x - 5 or -x - 3 = -2x + 5 ; 4 = 3x or -8 = -x 8 = x