Two-Variable First Degree Inequalities

The biggest difference between the solution set of

a two-variable equation and a two variable inequality is that the solution set of a two-variable equation is all points on a line, while the solution set to a two-variable inequality is all points represented by a half-plane whose boundary is the line

 In simpler terms, the solution set of a two-variable

inequality can be all the points on the line and either all points above or below the line, depending on the inequality sign (< or >)

Example
The inequality represented by the line

2x - 3y - 6 < 0 is shown on the graph below

y

 While the inequality represented by the line

2x - 3y - 6 > 0 is shown on the graph below

y

How do we graph the inequality?

The same way you have graphed all straight lines

to date. Examples: a slope, a point, 2 points and find an equation of the line, make a table of values, or find the intercepts. Yes.. See you know how
1Big Difference: Use a solid line to indicate or (these have an equal sign within them
Use a broken line to indicate

or

 The toughest part in this chapter is to determine

which side of the line to shade. There are two methods commonly taught
Method 1: (Plotting the origin)
Draw the line of the equation If the origin (0,0) verifies the inequality, you shade the

half-plane containing the origin If the origin does not verify the inequality, you shade the half-plane not containing the origin

Example
2x - 3y 6 < 0 2(0) - 3(0) 6 < 0 0 - 0 -6<0 -6 < 0 Since this is true, we shade the half-plane containing the origin

2x - 3y 6 > 0 2(0) - 3(0) 6 > 0 0 - 0 -6>0 -6 > 0 Since this is false, we shade the half-plane NOT containing the origin

**Important Notation If the equation is strictly greater than or strictly less than (> or <), we use a dotted line to graphically represent the equation ------------------ as opposed to ____________

Method 2
Turn the inequality into function form
If the inequality states that the function is less than y

(ie. y > ax + b), then we shade above the line If the inequality states that the function is greater than y (ie. y < ax + b), then we shade below the line

Example
2x - 3y 6 < 0 2x - 3y <6 -3y < 6 2x y > -2 + 2x/3 So in this case we shade above the line. Note that this is the same part that we shaded in the same example done by Method 1

Homework
Handout

Math 3000 p124 #5

Day 2 of Inequalities
Correct homework

Visions pg 186 # 1, 4(a-e) and 5