Question

|5s+2|=|s+8|

Answer 1

Start with this solution and check it.

5s+2=s+8
4s=6
s=3/2

checking it: abs(5*3/2+2)=abs(3/2+8)
abs(7.5+2)=abs(9.5) checks ok

Now check this solution:
-5s-2=s+8
4s=-10
s=-5/2
checking: abs(-25/2 +2)=abs(-5/2 +8)
abs(-21/2)=abs(-11/2) does not check