Sections 5.1 & 5.

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Inequalities in Two Variables

After today’s lesson, you will be able to

 graph linear inequalities in two variables.
 solve systems of linear inequalities.
 solve applications of linear inequalities in two variables.

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Strategy For Graphing Linear Inequalities

1. Express the inequality in slope-intercept form (if

it is not a vertical line.)

2. Graph the related equation as the boundary line.

a) If the symbol is < or > , draw the line dotted.
b) If the symbol is  or , draw the line solid.

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Strategy For Graphing Linear Inequalities

3. Choose a test point on either side of the boundary

line. The point (0, 0) is a good choice, if it is not on
the boundary line. Substitute the values of x and y
into the original inequality.

a) If the statement is TRUE, shade the half-plane

containing the test point.

b) If the statement is FALSE, shade the half-plane NOT

containing the test point (the opposite side).

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Strategy For Graphing Linear Inequalities

4. Notice, for equations in slope-intercept form:

a) If y < or y , shade below the line.
b) If y > or y , shade above the line.

5. Label the solution set with the original

inequality (label on the shaded side).

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 Graphing a Linear Inequality
Example 1

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Example 1: Graph the linear inequality y  x  1
4
y

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 Example 2

Example 2: Graph the inequality 3x – 5y ≥ 15.

y

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 Example 3
Example 3: Graph the inequality 2x > 8

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 Example 4
Example 4: Graph the inequality y  2

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 Solving Systems of Inequalities
 We now consider systems of linear inequalities such as
 1
y   x  2
 2
 x  4  y

 To solve such systems graphically means to graph all

ordered pairs (x, y) that simultaneously satisfy all the
inequalities in the system.

 The graph is called the solution region for the system

(or feasible region.)

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 Solving Systems of Inequalities
 To find the solution region, we graph each inequality in the
system and then take the intersection (overlap) of all the
graphs.

 To find the intersection, lightly shade (perpendicularly to

the line) the solution region for each inequality separately.

 Darken in the region where the all of the regions overlap.

 Make sure it is very clear which region is the solution of

the system (your final answer).

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 Example 5
Example 5: Solve the system  1
y   x  2
 2
 x  4  y y

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 Corner Points
A corner point (or vertex) of a solution region is a point
in the solution region that is the intersection of two
boundary lines.
In the previous example, the solution region had a corner
point of (4,0) because that was the intersection of the lines
y = -1/2 x + 2 and y = x – 4.

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 Bounded vs. Unbounded

 A solution region of a system of linear inequalities is

BOUNDED if it can be enclosed within a circle.

 3
 y   x6
4

y 1
x  0



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 Bounded vs. Unbounded

 If it cannot be enclosed within a circle, it is UNBOUNDED.

 y  2x

 y  x  6

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 Example 6

Example 6: Solve the system:

y  x y

 y  x  4

Is the solution bounded or unbounded?

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 Example 7
Example 7: Solve the system

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Example 7 (continued)

Is the solution bounded or unbounded?

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 Example 8
Example 8: Solve the system and give the coordinates of any
corner points (vertices) formed.

2 y  x  2

 y  3 x  4
 y  1


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Example 8 (continued)

Is the solution bounded or unbounded?

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 Application

Labor costs for a farmer are $55 per acre for corn and $45 per acre
for soybeans. The farmer wants to spend no more than $6,900 on
labor. Let x represent the number of acres of corn and y represent
the number of acres of soybeans. Write a system of inequalities to
represent the appropriate constraints on x and y. Graphically find
the set of feasible solutions (i.e. graph the feasible region.)

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Application (continued)

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Additional Example P. 274 # 40

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P. 274 #40 (continued)

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