Solving an absolute value equation {ACT}

If |x + 1| = 6, what are the possible values for x?
A.)  -5 and 7
B.)  -1 and 1
C.)  5 and -7
D.)  5 and -5
E.)  5 and 7

Absolute value is the distance away from zero.

In a more basic example:
If |x| = 3, then x could be 3 or -3   {if the distance from zero is 3, then x could be 3 or -3}

In the given example:
If |x + 1| = 6, then
x + 1 = 6    or   x + 1 = -6   {if (x + 1) is 6 away from zero, then (x + 1) could be 6 or -6}  
x = 5   or   x = -7   {subtracted 1 from each side of each equation}

C.)  5 and -7


- Algebra House