GRAPHING LINEAR INEQUALITIES IN TWO VARIABLES

A linear inequality in x and y is an inequality that can be written in one of the following forms.

ax + by < c

ax + by ≤ c

ax + by > c

ax + by ≥ c

An ordered pair (a, b) is a solution to a linear inequality in x and y if the inequality is true when a and b are substituted for x and y, respectively.

Sketching the Graph of a Linear Inequality

Step 1 :

Sketch the graph of the corresponding linear equation. Use a dashed line for inequalities with < or > and a solid line for inequalities with ≤ or ≥. This line divides the coordinate plane into two half planes.

Step 2 :

Test a point in one of the half planes to find whether it is a solution of the inequality.

Step 3 :

If the test point is a solution, shade its half plane. If not, shade the other half plane.

Graph the following inequalities :

Example 1 :

2y + x ≤ 4

Solution :

The corresponding equation is 2y + x = 4.

Write the equation in slope-intercept form.

y = -(½)x + 2

Graph the line that has a slope of -½ and a y-intercept of 2. Since the inequality sign is ≤, the boundary should be drawn as a solid line. Select a point in one of the half planes and test it.

Let's check the given inequality with (0, 0).

2y + x ≤ 4

2(0) + 0 ≤ 4

0 ≤ 4

Since the statement is true, shade the half plane containing the origin.

graphinginequalities1

Example 2 :

3x - 2y > 2

Solution :

The corresponding equation is 3x - 2y = 2.

Write the equation in slope-intercept form.

y = (³⁄₂)x - 1

Graph the line that has a slope of ³⁄₂ and a y-intercept of -1. Since the inequality sign is >, the boundary should be drawn as a dashed line. Select a point in one of the half planes and test it.

Let's check the given inequality with (0, 0).

3x - 2y > 2

3(0) - 2(0) > 2

0 > 2

Since the statement is false, shade the other half plane not containing the origin.

graphinginequalities2

Solved Problems

Problem 1 :

graphinginequalities3

Which of the following inequalities represents the graph above?

(A)  x > -2

(B)  x < -2

(C)  y > -2

(D)  y < -2

Solution :

The equation of the boundary line is y = -2. Any point above that horizontal has a y-coordinate that satisfies

y > -2

Since the boundary line is drawn as a dashed line, the inequality should not include an equal sign.

Therefore, the correct answer is option (C).

Problem 2 :

graphinginequalities4

Which of the following inequalities represents the graph above?

(A)  2y - 3x ≥ 6

(B)  2y - 3x ≤ 6

(C)  3y - 2x ≥ 6

(D)  3y - 2x ≤ 6

Solution :

The slope-intercept form of the boundary line is

y = ()x + 2

The standard form of the line is

3y - 2x = 6

Since the boundary line is drawn as a solid line, the inequality should include an equal sign. Select a point in the plane which is not on the boundary line and test the inequalities in the answer choices. Let’s use (0, 0).

In option (C),

3y - 2x ≥ 6

3(0) - 2(0) ≥ 6

0 - 0 ≥ 6

0 ≥ 6 (false)

In option (D),

3y - 2x ≤ 6

3(0) - 2(0) ≤ 6

0 - 0 ≤ 6

0 ≤ 6 (true)

Therefore, the correct answer is option (D).

Problem 3 :

graphinginequalities5

Which of the following inequalities represents the graph above?

(A)  x + y < -1

(B)  x + y > -1

(C)  x + y ≤ -1

(D)  x + y ≥ -1

Solution :

The slope-intercept form of the boundary line is

y = -x - 1

The standard form of the line is

x + y = -1

Since the boundary line is drawn as a dashed line, the inequality should not include an equal sign. Select a point in the plane which is not on the boundary line and test the inequalities in the answer choices. Let’s use (0, 0).

In option (A),

x + y > -1

0 + 0 > -1

0 > -1

0 > -1 (true)

In option (B),

x + y < -1

0 + 0 < -1

0 < -1

0 < -1 (false)

Therefore, the correct answer is option (A).

Problem 4 :

graphinginequalities6

Which of the following inequalities represents the graph above?

(A)  2x - y ≥ 0

(B)  2x - y ≤ 0

(C)  x - 2y ≥ 0

(D)  x - 2y ≤ 0

Solution :

The slope-intercept form of the boundary line is

y = 2x

The standard form of the line is

2x - y = 0

Since the boundary line is drawn as a solid line, the inequality should include an equal sign. Select a point in the plane which is not on the boundary line and test the inequalities in the answer choices.

In this case, don't use (0, 0), because (0, 0) is on the boundary line.Let’s use (0, 1) .

In option (A),

2x - y  ≥ 0

2(0) - 1 ≥ 0

-1 ≥ 0

-1 ≥ 0 (false)

In option (B),

2x - y ≤ 0

2(0) - (1) ≤ 0

-1 ≤ 0

-1 ≤ 0 (true)

Therefore, the correct answer is option (B).

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