We are asked to verify if the given system of inequalities will always have at least one solution. In the exercise we claim that it wouldn't, but our friend claims that it would. Let's consider the given system of inequalities.

{y < (x + a)^{2} y < (x + b)^{2}

To graph the quadratic inequality, we will follow three steps.

Graph the related quadratic function.
Test a point not on the parabola.
Shade accordingly. If the point satisfies the inequality, we shade the region that contains the point. If not, we shade the opposite region.

Let's draw the graphs of the related functions, which are $y = (x + a)^{2}$ and $y = (x + b)^{2} .$

Next, let's determine which region to shade by testing a point. We will use points below the vertices. For instance, for the inequality

y < (x + a)^{2}

we will use

(- a, - 1)

as our test point. Let's see if it satisfies the given inequality.

y < (x + a)^{2}

SubstituteII

$x = - a$ , $y = - 1$

- 1 < ? (- a + a)^{2}

AddTerms

Add terms

- 1 < ? (0)^{2}

CalcPow

Calculate power

- 1 < 0 ✓

Since

(- a, - 1)

produced a true statement, we will shade the region that contains the point. Also, note that the inequality is strict. Therefore, the parabola will be dashed.

Next, we will draw $y < (x + b)^{2} .$ Let's determine which region to shade by testing a point. We will use, similarly as before, the point $(- b, - 1)$ as our test point.

Inequality	Test point	Statement	Is it shaded?
$y < (x + b)^{2}$	$(- b, - 1)$	$- 1 < 0 ✓$	Yes

Let's graph it!

The solution set is the overlapping region.

Since the parabolas open upwards, we will always find a non-empty region which is the solution of the given system of inequalities. Therefore, our friend is right.

Exercise