Verified answer

|2x + 1| = -x

can be written as two equations:

(1) (2x+1) = -x and (2) -(2x+1) = -x

Soving each of these in turn:

(1) (2x+ 1) = - x

=> 3x = -1

=> x = -1/3

(2) -(2x+1) = -x

=> -2x - 1 = - x

=> -x = 1

=> x = -1

Hence least solution (leftmost on the number line) is x = -1