Your friend says that the absolute value equation ∣3x + 8 ∣ − 9 = −5 has no solution because the constant on the right side of the equation is negative. is your friend correct? explain.

No, ur friend is not correct

| 3x + 8 | - 9 = -5u have to get the absolute value (and everything in it) on one side of the equal sign, and everything else on the other side. So we have to get that -9 across the equal sign by adding 9 to both sides
| 3x + 8 } = -5 + 9
| 3x + 8 | = 4...so that number is not negative anymore
now u can set up ur 2 equations and solve for x...ur 2 equations would be: 
3x + 8 = 4 and 3x + 8 = -4...so there will be 2 solutions

** if that -9 would not have been there, then ur friend would have been correct