(6.

5) Graphing a Linear
Inequality

Graphing a linear inequality is

very similar to graphing a linear
equation.
Graphing a Linear Inequality

 1) Solve the inequality for y

(or for x if there is no y).
 2) Change the inequality to an equation
and graph.
 3) If the inequality is < or >, the line
is dotted. If the inequality is ≤ or
≥, the line is solid.
y=
≤ 2x + 1 Run
1

y-intercept
Rise
b=1
2
slope
m=2
rise 2

run 1
 Now for the
y=
≤ 2x + 1 shading
Pick a point on
either side of
the graph
Let’s try (2, 1)
Does the point
satisfy the
inequality?

1 ≤ 2(2) + 1
1≤4+1
1≤5
Therefore, shade the half-plane
with the point.
 What if we picked a point on
y=
≤ 2x + 1 the other side of the line?

Let’s try (-2, 3)

Does the point

satisfy the
inequality?

3 ≤ 2(-2) + 1
3 ≤ -4 + 1
3 ≤ -3

Therefore, shade the other

half-plane opposite the point.
y=
≥ -3x + 2 Run
1

y-intercept
Rise
b=2
-3
slope
m = -3
rise  3

run 1
 Now for the
y=
≥ -3x + 2 shading
Pick a point on
either side of
the graph
Let’s try (0, 0)
Does the point
satisfy the
inequality?

0 ≥ -3(0) + 2
0≥0+2
0≥2
Therefore, shade the other
half-plane opposite the point.
 2
y  x 1 Run
3 3

y-intercept
b = -1 Rise
2
slope
2
m
3
rise 2

run 3
 2 Now for the
y  x 1
3 shading
Pick a point on either
side of the graph

Let’s try (0, 0)

Does the point satisfy

the inequality?

2
0   0  1
3
0  0 1
0  1

Therefore, shade the

half-plane with the point.
Graphing Linear
Inequalities
2x + 3y ≥ 5
x-intercept
2x + 3(0) = 5
2x + 0 = 5
 0, 53 
2x = 5
x 5

 52 , 0
2
y-intercept
2(0) + 3y = 5
0 + 3y = 5
3y = 5
y 5
3
 Now for the
2x + 3y ≥ 5 shading
Pick a point on either
side of the graph

Let’s try (4, 2)

Does the point satisfy
the inequality?

2(4)  3(2)  5
865
14  5

Therefore, shade the

half-plane with the point.
 2x + 3y ≥ 5 What if we picked a point on
the other side of the line?

Let’s try (-3, -4)

Does the point satisfy
the inequality?

2(3)  3(4)  5
 6  12  5
 18  5

Therefore, shade the other

half-plane opposite the point.
 4x - y > 6
x-intercept
4x - (0) = 6
4x - 0 = 5
4x = 6  32 , 0
x 3
2
y-intercept
4(0) - y = 6
0-y=6
-y = 6
 0,  6
y  6
 4x - y > 6 Now for the
shading
Pick a point on either
side of the graph

Let’s try (0, 0)

Does the point satisfy
the inequality?

4(0)  (0)  6
006
06

Therefore, shade the other

half-plane opposite the point.
 4x + 2y < 3
x-intercept
4x + 2(0) = 3
4x + 0 = 3
 0, 32 
4x = 3
x 3

 52 , 0
4
y-intercept
4(0) + 2y = 3
0 + 2y = 3
2y = 3
y 3
2
 4x + 2y < 3 Now for the
shading
Pick a point on either
side of the graph

Let’s try (0, 0)

Does the point satisfy
the inequality?

4(0)  2(0)  3
003
03

Therefore, shade the

half-plane with the point.
 3x - 2y < 7
x-intercept
3x - 2(0) = 7
3x - 0 = 7
3x = 7  73 , 0
x 7
3
y-intercept
3(0) - 2y = 7  0, 27 
0 - 2y = 7
-2y = 7
y 7
2
 3x - 2y < 7 Now for the
shading
Pick a point on either
side of the graph

Let’s try (0, 0)

Does the point satisfy
the inequality?

3(0)  2(0)  7
007
07

Therefore, shade the

half-plane with the point.
Graphing a Linear Inequality

 Graph the inequality 3 - x > 0

 First, solve the inequality for x.

3-x>0
-x > -3
x<3
Graph: x<3
 Graph the line x = 3.

6
 Because x < 3 and
not x ≤ 3, the line
will be dotted. 4

 Now shade the side 2

of the line where
x < 3 (to the left of
the line). 3
Graphing a Linear Inequality
 4) To check that the shading is correct, pick a
point in the area and plug it into the
inequality.
 5) If the inequality statement is true, the
shading is correct. If the inequality
statement is false, the shading is incorrect.
Graphing a Linear Inequality
 Pick a point, (1,2),
in the shaded area.
6
 Substitute into the
original inequality
3–x>0 4

3–1>0
2>0 2
 True! The inequality
has been graphed
correctly. 3