# Math Help - inequalities

1. ## inequalities

How to graph an inequality?

2. Originally Posted by Selma201
How to graph an inequality?
Hi Selma201,

3. ## Treat it as an equation

Hi Selma. I'll presume that you mean linear variables.

It's actually quite easy. Let's take the example of
$3y - 4x < 0$
This can be manipulated to give
$
y<\frac{4}{3}x
$

Now we just ignore the inequalities sign for the moment, and draw the graph of $y=\frac{4}{3}x$

Then, simply shade whichever side of the line does not match your inequality. In this scenario, we want the side where y is less than $\frac{4}{3}x$, so the section above the line is shaded as it does not fit the equality.

Note that as the line of $y=\frac{4}{3}x$ is not included in the inequality, it should be drawn as a dotted line.

4. for example 3x+4y<12

5. Originally Posted by Selma201
for example 3x+4y<12
Hi Selma201,

For this one, here's what I would do.

Find the x- and y-intercepts of the graph of the linear equation $3x+4y=12$

To find the x-intercept, substitute 0 for y and solve for x. You should get x = 4. This means the x-intercept is (4, 0).

To find the y-intercept, substitute 0 for x and solve for y.
You should get y = 3. This means the y-intercept is (0, 3).

Plot these two points on the coordinate plane.

Since your original inequality did not have an equal sign ( $\leq$), the line that you draw through these points will be a broken (dashed) line. This indicates that the points on the line are not part of the solution set.

Finally, pick any point above or below the line and substitute it into the original inequality. Let's choose (0, 0) which is below the line.

If the substitution makes the inequality true, shade that side of the line. If it doesn't, shade the other side.

I believe you'll find that (0, 0) is part of the solution set, so you should shade below the line which includes this point.