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This lesson aims to show how to represent the solutions to linear inequalities on a coordinate plane.

Catch-Up and Review

Here are a few recommended readings before getting started with this lesson.

Challenge

How Would the Graph Change?

When graphing a linear equation, the resulting graph is a line.

line
The graph looks this way because the solution set of a linear equation forms a straight line. How would the graph change if the equals sign is replaced with an inequality symbol?
Discussion

Linear Inequality

A linear inequality is an inequality that represents a linear relationship involving one or more variables. Therefore, the exponent of all variables is As with any other inequality, linear inequalities can be strict or non-strict.

Strict Linear Inequalities Non-Strict Linear Inequalities

Linear inequalities are similar to linear equations. The difference is that, while the solutions to linear equations are represented by all the points that lie on a line, the solution set to a linear inequality is represented by the points on a region containing one half of the coordinate plane.

linear inequality

Determining if a Point Is a Solution of an Inequality

If a point is a solution to an inequality, then substituting its coordinates in the inequality makes a true statement. As an example, consider the following inequality.
The points and will be tested. To verify whether these points are solutions, their coordinates will be substituted into the inequality.
Point Substitute Simplify
Since it makes a true statement when substituted into the inequality, the point is a solution to the inequality. Conversely, substituting the point makes a false statement. This means that this point is not a solution to the inequality.
Pop Quiz

Does the Point Satisfy the Inequality?

Verify whether the point satisfies the given linear inequality.

Discussion

Graphing a Linear Inequality

Graphing a linear inequality is similar to graphing a linear equation in slope-intercept form. However, instead of a line, the graph of a linear inequality is a region of the coordinate plane. Consider the following linear inequality.
To draw its solution set, the procedure begins by writing the inequality in slope-intercept form. This way, the equation for the boundary line can be obtained. Then, this boundary line is graphed in the coordinate plane. Finally, the region that contains the solutions is shaded.
1
Write the Inequality in Slope-Intercept Form
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To find the boundary line of the region, start by writing the inequality similar to a linear equation in slope-intercept form. This is done solving the inequality for one of the variables, most commonly
Write in slope-intercept form
Then, the inequality in slope-intercept form can be written as follows.
2
Graph the Boundary Line
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The boundary line of the inequality is obtained by replacing the inequality symbol with an equals sign.
If the inequality is strict, the points on the line are not solutions to the inequality. Therefore, the line is dashed. Conversely, if the inequality is not strict, the points on the line are solutions to the inequality. In this case, the line is solid.
Symbol Meaning Type Boundary Line
Less than Strict Dashed
Greater than Strict Dashed
Less than or equal to Non-strict Solid
Greater than or equal to Non-strict Solid

Therefore, in the given example, the line is solid. The boundary line can be graphed using intercept and slope.

3
Test a Point
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The region of the coordinate plane either to the left or to the right of the boundary line contains the solution set. To determine the correct region, substitute an arbitrary test point not on the boundary line into the inequality. It is common to use
Evaluate right-hand side
Since is a true statement, the point is a solution to the inequality.
4
Shade the Correct Region
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If the test point is a solution to the inequality, the region that contains it must be shaded. Otherwise, the opposite region must be shaded.

In this case, the test point is a solution to the inequality. The region containing lies to the left of the boundary line. This is the region that must be shaded.

Example

Clothes for a Skiing Trip

Stoked to go on a ski trip to the Rocky Mountains, Heichi has saved as much money as he could to buy equipment. After buying most of the equipment, he is left with to buy jackets and pants.

Snowy-mountain.jpg

At his favorite ski shop, each jacket costs and each pair of pants costs

a Write an inequality that describes the number of jackets and pairs of pants that Heichi can buy.
b Graph the inequality.

Answer

a
b

Hint

a Use variables to represent the number of items bought.

Solution

a To write an inequality that describes the number of jackets and pairs of pants that Heichi can buy, variables need to be assigned to each item.
The total amount of money spent on these items is obtained by adding the product of each variable and the price of the item.
It is given that the the total amount of money that Heichi can spend is Therefore, Heichi can spend no more than No more can be written with the less than or equal to symbol.
This linear inequality can be simplified by dividing both sides of the equation by
Simplify
b To graph linear inequalities, they should be first rewritten in slope-intercept form. This can be done by solving the inequality for
Write in slope-intercept form
Next, the boundary line will be graphed. Because the inequality is non-strict, the line will be solid. Also, since the quantities of interest are the number of items bought, the only relevant quadrant is the first quadrant, where the positive values lie.
Now, the point will be tested to determine the region that should be shaded. To do so, the point's coordinates will be substituted into the inequality.
Evaluate right-hand side
Since the test point satisfies the inequality, the region that contains the point should be shaded.
Example

Algebraic and Graphic Methods to Solve an Inequality

Heichi needs to finish the last of his homework so he can hit the slopes. He is considering the following linear inequality.
He wonders whether the point is a solution to the inequality. He needs to solve the problem algebraically, then test the point graphically.
a How can Heichi solve this problem algebraically?
b How can he solve this problem graphically?

Answer

a See solution.
b See solution.

Hint

a Substitute the coordinates of the given point into the inequality.
b Graph the inequality first.

Solution

a To solve this problem algebraically, the given point will be substituted into the inequality. If the point satisfies the inequality, then it is a solution.
Evaluate left-hand side
Since the point does not satisfy the inequality, it is not a solution.
b To graphically test whether the given point is a solution to the linear inequality, the inequality will be graphed. To do so, it will be written in slope-intercept form.
The boundary line is obtained by replacing the inequality symbol with an equals sign.
Since the inequality is strict, the line is dashed.
Now the region to be shaded will be found by testing the point in the inequality.
Evaluate right-hand side
Since the test point satisfies the inequality, the shaded region is the region that contains the point.

Now the given point can be tested. To do so, verify if the point lies in the shaded region.

Since the point lies outside the shaded region, the point is not a solution to the inequality.

Discussion

Writing a Linear Inequality

Writing a linear inequality given a graph is similar to writing a linear equation given a graph. Two extra things must be considered.

  1. Whether the line is solid or dashed
  2. Shaded region

Consider the following graph.

The procedure begins by writing the equation of the boundary line in slope-intercept form. To do so, the intercept and the slope must be found. Then, identify whether the inequality is strict. Finally, the inequality symbol should be determined.
1
Writing the Linear Equation
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To write the linear equation of the boundary line, the slope and intercept should be identified. It is easier to do so if the shaded region is ignored.

The intercept is The slope of the line is the quotient of the rise and run.
Having found the slope and the intercept, the linear equation can be written in slope-intercept form.
2
Strict or Non-Strict?
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To identify whether the inequality is strict or non-strict, the line should be considered. If it is dashed, the inequality is strict. Otherwise, the inequality is non-strict. Consider the boundary line of the given inequality.

The graph has a dashed line. Therefore, the inequality is strict. This means that the inequality sign is either or

3
Inequality Sign
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To determine the sign of the inequality, a point located in the shaded region but not on the boundary line should be tested. For simplicity, the point will be used.

The coordinates of this point can be substituted to determine the symbol of the inequality.
The sign of the inequality is greater than. With this information, the inequality can be written.
Example

Writing the Linear Inequality From a Graph

Consider the following graph of a linear inequality represented on a coordinate plane.

Write the inequality in slope-intercept form.

Hint

Start by writing the equation of the boundary line.

Solution

To write a linear inequality from a graph, the first step is writing the equation the boundary line. To do so, the slope and the intercept will be found.

The intercept of the line is Furthermore, the slope of the line is or Using this information, the equation for the boundary line can be written in slope-intercept form.
Since the boundary line is dashed, the inequality is strict. To determine the inequality symbol, a point in the shaded region but not on the boundary line will tested. Looking at the graph, it can be seen that the point lies in the shaded region.
Therefore, and will be substituted into the equation of the line and the equals sign removed.
The correct inequality symbol is less than. It should be noted that any other point in the shaded region but not on the line can be chosen. There is now enough information to write the inequality.
Closure

Graphing Two Inequalities

This lesson will be finished by finding the solution set of two linear inequalities. Consider the following inequalities.
To graph the solution set of these two inequalities, it is important to identify and graph both boundary lines. Note that the inequalities are already written in slope-intercept form. The slope and the intercept can be used to graph these lines. Also, the boundary line of the strict inequality is dashed, while the boundary line of the non-strict inequality is solid.

Next, the the point is substituted in each inequality to see if these are satisfied.

Inequality Substitute Simplify

The coordinates of the point satisfy both inequalities.

  • Since is above the line the entire region above this line should be shaded.
  • Since is below the line the entire region below this line should be shaded.

This information can be shown in the graph.

Finally, the overlapping region is the solution set for both inequalities. This means that the points in this region satisfy both inequalities at the same time.

A single inequality divides the coordinate plane in two regions, and one of those regions is the solution set of the inequality. Meanwhile, two inequalities can divide the coordinate plane in up to four regions, and sometimes there is no overlapping solutions for both inequalities at the same time.
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