This is “Solving Systems of Inequalities with Two Variables”, section 3.7 from the book Advanced Algebra (v. 1.0). For details on it (including licensing), click here.

For more information on the source of this book, or why it is available for free, please see the project's home page. You can browse or download additional books there. To download a .zip file containing this book to use offline, simply click here.

Has this book helped you? Consider passing it on:
Creative Commons supports free culture from music to education. Their licenses helped make this book available to you.
DonorsChoose.org helps people like you help teachers fund their classroom projects, from art supplies to books to calculators.

3.7 Solving Systems of Inequalities with Two Variables

Learning Objectives

  1. Check solutions to systems of inequalities with two variables.
  2. Graph solution sets of systems of inequalities.

Solutions to Systems of Inequalities

A system of inequalitiesA set of two or more inequalities with the same variables. consists of a set of two or more inequalities with the same variables. The inequalities define the conditions that are to be considered simultaneously. For example,

{y>x2y2x+2

We know that each inequality in the set contains infinitely many ordered pair solutions defined by a region in a rectangular coordinate plane. When considering two of these inequalities together, the intersection of these sets will define the set of simultaneous ordered pair solutions. When we graph each of the above inequalities separately we have:

And when graphed on the same set of axes, the intersection can be determined.

The intersection is shaded darker and the final graph of the solution set will be presented as follows:

The graph suggests that (3, 2) is a solution because it is in the intersection. To verify this, we can show that it solves both of the original inequalities as follows:

Check:(3,2)

Inequality1:y>x22>322>1

Inequality2:y2x+222(3)+228

Points on the solid boundary are included in the set of simultaneous solutions and points on the dashed boundary are not. Consider the point (−1, 0) on the solid boundary defined by y=2x+2 and verify that it solves the original system:

Check:(1,0)

Inequality1:y>x20>120>3

Inequality2:y2x+202(1)+200

Notice that this point satisfies both inequalities and thus is included in the solution set. Now consider the point (2, 0) on the dashed boundary defined by y=x2 and verify that it does not solve the original system:

Check:(2,0)

Inequality1:y>x20>220>0

Inequality2:y2x+202(2)+206

This point does not satisfy both inequalities and thus is not included in the solution set.

Example 1

Determine whether or not (−3, 3) is a solution to the following system:

{2x+6y613xy3

Solution:

Substitute the coordinates of (x, y) = (−3, 3) into both inequalities.

Check:(3,3)

Inequality1:2x+6y62(3)+6(3)66+186126

Inequality2:13xy313(3)(3)313323

Answer: (−3, 3) is not a solution; it does not satisfy both inequalities.

We can graph the solutions of systems that contain nonlinear inequalities in a similar manner. For example, both solution sets of the following inequalities can be graphed on the same set of axes:

{y<12x+4yx2

And the intersection of both regions contains the region of simultaneous ordered pair solutions.

From the graph, we expect the ordered pair (1, 3) to solve both inequalities.

Check:(1,3)

Inequality1:y<12x+43<12(1)+43<412

Inequality2:yx23(1)231

Graphing Solutions to Systems of Inequalities

Solutions to a system of inequalities are the ordered pairs that solve all the inequalities in the system. Therefore, to solve these systems we graph the solution sets of the inequalities on the same set of axes and determine where they intersect. This intersection, or overlap, will define the region of common ordered pair solutions.

Example 2

Graph the solution set: {2x+y>43x6y6.

Solution:

To facilitate the graphing process, we first solve for y.

{2x+y>43x6y6  {y>2x4y12x1

For the first inequality, we use a dashed boundary defined by y=2x4 and shade all points above the line. For the second inequality, we use a solid boundary defined by y=12x1 and shade all points below. The intersection is darkened.

Now we present our solution with only the intersection shaded.

Answer:

Example 3

Graph the solution set: {3x+2y>66x4y>8.

Solution:

We begin by solving both inequalities for y.

{3x+2y>66x4y>8  {y>32x+3y<32x2

Because of the strict inequalities, we will use a dashed line for each boundary. For the first inequality shade all points above the boundary and for the second inequality shade all points below the boundary.

As we can see, there is no intersection of these two shaded regions. Therefore, there are no simultaneous solutions.

Answer: Ø

Example 4

Graph the solution set: {y4y<x+3y3x+3.

Solution:

Begin by graphing the solution sets to all three inequalities.

After graphing all three inequalities on the same set of axes, we determine that the intersection lies in the triangular region pictured below.

Answer:

The graph suggests that (−1, 1) is a simultaneous solution. As a check, we could substitute that point into the inequalities and verify that it solves all three conditions.

Check:(1,1)

Inequality1:y414

Inequality2:y<x+31<1+31<2

Inequality3:y3x+313(1)+313+316

Use the same technique to graph the solution sets to systems of nonlinear inequalities.

Example 5

Graph the solution set: {y<(x+1)2y12x+3.

Solution:

The first inequality has a parabolic boundary. This boundary is a horizontal translation of the basic function y=x2 to the left 1 unit. Because of the strict inequality, the boundary is dashed, indicating that it is not included in the solution set. The second inequality is linear and will be graphed with a solid boundary. Solution sets to both are graphed below.

After graphing the inequalities on the same set of axes, we determine that the intersection lies in the region pictured below.

Answer:

Try this! Graph the solution set: {y|x+1|+3y2.

Answer:

Key Takeaways

  • To graph solutions to systems of inequalities, graph the solution sets of each inequality on the same set of axes and determine where they intersect.
  • You can check your answer by choosing a few values inside and out of the shaded region to see if they satisfy the inequalities or not. While this is not a proof, doing so will give a good indication that you have graphed the correct region.

Topic Exercises

    Part A: Solutions to Systems of Inequalities

      Determine whether or not the given point is a solution to the given system of inequalities.

    1. (−2, 1);

      {y>3x+5yx+1
    2. (−1, −3);

      {y3x1y<2x
    3. (−2, −1);

      {x2y>13xy<3
    4. (0, −5);

      {5xy53x+2y<1
    5. (12,0);

      {8x+5y32x3y<0
    6. (1,13);

      {2x9y<13x6y>2
    7. (−1, −2);

      {2xy1x3y<62x3y>1
    8. (−5, 2);

      {x+5y>102x+y<1x+3y<2
    9. (0, 3);

      {y+4012x+13y13x+2y6
    10. (1, 1);

      {y34x+2y5x+2y13x1
    11. (−1, 2);

      {yx2+1y<2x+3
    12. (4, 5);

      {y<(x1)21y>12x1
    13. (−2, −3);

      {y<0y|x|+4
    14. (1, 2);

      {y<|x3|+2y2
    15. (12,5);

      {y3x5y>(x1)210
    16. (−4, 1);

      {x5y<(x+3)22
    17. (32,13);

      {x2y4y|3x1|+2
    18. (3,34);

      {3x4y<24y<(x+2)21
    19. (4, 2);

      {y<(x3)2+1y<34x+5
    20. (52,1);

      {y1y<(x2)2+3

    Part B: Solving Systems of Inequalities

      Graph the solution set.

    1. {y23x3y<13x+3
    2. {y14x+1y<12x2
    3. {y>23x+1y>43x5
    4. {y5x+4y<43x2
    5. {xy3x+y3
    6. {3x+y<42xy1
    7. {x+2y03x+5y<15
    8. {2x+3y<64x+3y12
    9. {3x+2y>14x2y>3
    10. {x4y28x+4y3
    11. {5x2y65x+2y<2
    12. {12x+10y>2018x+15y<15
    13. {x+y<0y+4>0
    14. {x>3y<1
    15. {2x2y<03x3y>3
    16. {y+10y+30
    17. Construct a system of linear inequalities that describes all points in the first quadrant.

    18. Construct a system of linear inequalities that describes all points in the second quadrant.

    19. Construct a system of linear inequalities that describes all points in the third quadrant.

    20. Construct a system of linear inequalities that describes all points in the fourth quadrant.

      Graph the solution set.

    1. {y12x+3y32x3y32x+1
    2. {y34x+2y5x+2y13x1
    3. {3x2y>65x+2y>83x+4y4
    4. {3x5y>155x2y8x+y<1
    5. {3x2y<15x+2y>7y+1>0
    6. {3x2y<15x+2y<7y+1>0
    7. {4x+5y8<0y>0x+3>0
    8. {y2<0y+2>02xy0
    9. {12x+12y<1x<312x+12y1
    10. {12x+13y1y+4012x+13y1
    11. {y<x+2yx23
    12. {yx2+1y>34x+3
    13. {y(x+2)2y13x+4
    14. {y<(x3)2+1y<34x+5
    15. {y1y<(x2)2+3
    16. {y<(x+1)21y<32x2
    17. {y13x+3y|x+3|2
    18. {yx+5y>|x1|+2
    19. {y>|x2|+5y>2
    20. {y|x|+3y<14x
    21. {y>|x|+1yx1
    22. {y|x|+1y>x1
    23. {y|x3|+1x2
    24. {y>|x+1|y<x2
    25. {y<x3+2yx+3
    26. {y4y(x+3)3+1
    27. {y2x+6y>x+3
    28. {yx+4x1
    29. {yx2+4yx24
    30. {y|x1|3y|x1|+3

Answers

  1. Yes

  2. Yes

  3. Yes

  4. Yes

  5. Yes

  6. Yes

  7. No

  8. Yes

  9. Yes

  10. No

  1. Ø

  2. {x>0y>0
  3. {x<0y<0
  4. Ø