Solved on Dec 12, 2023

Find the real numbers xx that satisfy the equation x=x|x| = x. Express the solution set in set-builder notation.

STEP 1

Assumptions
1. We are looking for real numbers that satisfy the equation x=x |x| = x .
2. The absolute value function x |x| outputs the non-negative value of x x for any real number x x .

STEP 2

Understand the definition of absolute value.
The absolute value of x x , denoted x |x| , is defined as: x={xif x0xif x<0 |x| = \begin{cases} x & \text{if } x \geq 0 \\ -x & \text{if } x < 0 \end{cases}

STEP 3

Analyze the equation x=x |x| = x for the case when x0 x \geq 0 .
If x0 x \geq 0 , then x=x |x| = x by the definition of absolute value.

STEP 4

Conclude that all non-negative real numbers satisfy the equation when x0 x \geq 0 .
Therefore, any x x such that x0 x \geq 0 is a solution to the equation x=x |x| = x .

STEP 5

Analyze the equation x=x |x| = x for the case when x<0 x < 0 .
If x<0 x < 0 , then x=x |x| = -x by the definition of absolute value.

STEP 6

Substitute x -x for x |x| in the equation x=x |x| = x when x<0 x < 0 .
We get x=x -x = x .

STEP 7

Solve the equation x=x -x = x for x x .
Adding x x to both sides of the equation, we get: x+x=x+x0=2x -x + x = x + x \\ 0 = 2x

STEP 8

Divide both sides of the equation 0=2x 0 = 2x by 2 to solve for x x .
We get x=0 x = 0 .

STEP 9

Note that x=0 x = 0 is included in the non-negative real numbers, so we do not need to consider it as a separate case.

STEP 10

Combine the results from STEP_4 and STEP_9 to write the solution in set-builder notation.
The solution set is: {xRx0} \{ x \in \mathbb{R} \mid x \geq 0 \}
This is the set of all non-negative real numbers.
The real numbers that satisfy the equation x=x |x| = x are all non-negative real numbers, including zero.

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