Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Inequalities (Part 4)

Graphing Linear Inequalities

This is a graph of a linear inequality:

The inequality y ≤ x + 2
You can see the y = x + 2 line, and the shaded area is where y is less than or equal to x + 2

Linear Inequality

A Linear Inequality is like a Linear Equation (such as y = 2x+1) ...
... but it will have an Inequality like <, >, ≤, or ≥ instead of an =.

How to Graph a Linear Inequality

First, graph the "equals" line, then shade in the correct area.
There are three steps:
  • Rearrange the equation so "y" is on the left and everything else on the right.
  • Plot the "y=" line (make it a solid line for y≤ or y≥, and a dashed line for y<or y>)
  • Shade above the line for a "greater than" (y> or y≥)
    or below the line for a "less than" (y< or y≤).
Let us try some examples:

Example: y≤2x-1

1. The inequality already has "y" on the left and everything else on the right, so no need to rearrange
2. Plot y=2x-1 (as a solid line because y≤ includes equal to)
3. Shade the area below (because y is less than or equal to)

Example: 2y − x ≤ 6

1. We will need to rearrange this one so "y" is on its own on the left:
Start with: 2y − x ≤ 6
Add x to both sides: 2y ≤ x + 6
Divide all by 2: y ≤ x/2 + 3

2. Now plot y = x/2 + 3 (as a solid line because y≤ includes equal to)
3. Shade the area below (because y is less than or equal to)

Example: y/2 + 2 > x

1. We will need to rearrange this one so "y" is on its own on the left:
Start with: y/2 + 2 > x
Subtract 2 from both sides: y/2 > x − 2
Multiply all by 2: y > 2x − 4

2. Now plot y = 2x − 4 (as a dashed line because y> does not include equals to)
3. Shade the area above (because y is greater than)
The dashed line shows that the inequality does not include the line y=2x-4.

Two Special Cases

You could also have a horizontal or vertical line:


This shows where y is less than 4
(from, but not including, the line y=4 on down)
Notice that we have a dashed line to show that it does not include where y=4





This one doesn't even have y in it!
It has the line x=1, and is shaded for all values of x greater than (or equal to) 1






Here is 3 videos to understand more about the linear inequalities graphing ^_^



























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