Section 4.

5 Systems of Linear Inequalities 241

4.5 Systems of Linear Inequalities

OBJECTIVE

OBJECTIVE 1 Graphing Systems of Linear Inequalities

In Section 3.7, we solved linear inequalities in two variables as well as their union
1 Graph a System of Linear and intersection. Just as two or more linear equations make a system of linear equa-
Inequalities. tions, two or more linear inequalities make a system of linear inequalities. Systems of
inequalities are very important in a process called linear programming. Many busi-
nesses use linear programming to find the most profitable way to use limited resources
such as employees, machines, or buildings.
A solution of a system of linear inequalities is an ordered pair that satisfies each
inequality in the system. The set of all such ordered pairs is the solution set of the
system. Graphing this set gives us a picture of the solution set. We can graph a system
of inequalities by graphing each inequality in the system and identifying the region of
overlap.

Graphing the Solutions of a System of Linear Inequalities

Step 1. Graph each inequality in the system on the same set of axes.
Step 2. The solutions of the system are the points common to the graphs of all the
inequalities in the system.

3x Ú y
EXAMPLE 1 Graph the solutions of the system: e
x + 2y … 8
Solution We begin by graphing each inequality on the same set of axes. The graph of
the solutions of the system is the region contained in the graphs of both inequalities. In
other words, it is their intersection.
First let’s graph 3x Ú y. The boundary line is the graph of 3x = y. We sketch a
solid boundary line since the inequality 3x Ú y means 3x 7 y or 3x = y. The test
point 11, 02 satisfies the inequality, so we shade the half-plane that includes 11, 02.
y y

5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1

5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 x 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 x
1 1
2 2
3 3
3x  y x  2y  8
4 4
5 5

y
Next we sketch a solid boundary line x + 2y = 8 on
the same set of axes. The test point 10, 02 satisfies 5
3x  y
the inequality x + 2y … 8, so we shade the half- 4
plane that includes 10, 02. (For clarity, the graph of x  2y  8
3
2
x + 2y … 8 is shown here on a separate set of axes.) 1 (¶, 247 )
An ordered pair solution of the system must satisfy
5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 x
both inequalities. These solutions are points that lie 1
in both shaded regions. The solution of the system 2
3
Solution
is the darkest shaded region. This solution includes region
4
parts of both boundary lines. 5

4x Ú y
Graph the solutions of the system: e
PRACTICE

1
x + 3y Ú 6
242 CHAPTER 4 Systems of Equations

In linear programming, it is sometimes necessary to find the coordinates of the

corner point: the point at which the two boundary lines intersect. To find the corner
point for the system of Example 1, we solve the related linear system
3x = y
e
x + 2y = 8
using either the substitution or the elimination method. The lines intersect at a , b ,
8 24
7 7
the corner point of the graph.

x - y 6 2
EXAMPLE 2 Graph the solutions of the system: • x + 2y 7 -1
y 6 2
Solution First we graph all three inequalities y

on the same set of axes. All boundary lines are 5

Solution
dashed lines since the inequality symbols are region 4
6 and 7 . The solution of the system is the re- 3
gion shown by the shading. In this example, the 2
y 2
1
boundary lines are not part of the solution.
5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 x
1
x  2y 1
2
3
xy 2
4
5

x - y 6 1
Graph the solutions of the system: •
PRACTICE

2 y 6 4 .
3x + y 7 -3

CONCEPT CHECK
Describe the solution of the system of inequalities:
x … 2
e
x Ú 2

-3x + 4y … 12
…
Graph the solutions of the system: μ
x 3
EXAMPLE 3
x Ú 0
y Ú 0
y
Solution We graph the inequalities on the same
set of axes. The intersection of the inequalities is 6
the solution region. It is the only region shaded 5
4
in this graph and includes the portions of all four Solution
3
boundary lines that border the shaded region. 2 region
1

5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 x
1
2
3
4

-2x + 5y … 10
…
Graph the solutions of the system: μ
PRACTICE
x 4
3 .
x Ú 0
Answer to Concept Check:
the line x = 2 y Ú 0
 Section 4.5 Systems of Linear Inequalities 243

Vocabulary, Readiness & Video Check

Use the choices below to fill in each blank. Not all choices will be used.
solution union system
corner intersection
1. Two or more linear inequalities form a(n) of linear inequalities.
2. An ordered pair that satisfies each inequality in a system is a(n) of the system.
3. The point where two boundary lines intersect is a(n) point.
4. The solution region of a system of inequalities consists of the of the solution regions of the inequalities in
the system.

Martin-Gay Interactive Videos Watch the section lecture video and answer the following question.
OBJECTIVE

1 5. In Example 1, do the solutions of the first inequality of the system

limit where we can choose the test point for the second inequality?
Why or why not?

See Video 4.5

4.5 Exercise Set

y Ú 1 y 7 2
13. e 14. e
MIXED PRACTICE
Graph the solutions of each system of linear inequalities. See x 6 -3 x Ú -1
Examples 1 through 3. y + 2x Ú 0 y + 2x … 0
y Ú x + 1 y Ú x - 3 15. • 5x - 3y … 12 16. • 5x + 3y Ú -2
1. e 2. e y … 2 y … 4
y Ú 3 - x y Ú -1 - x
y 6 3x - 4 y … 2x + 1 3x - 4y Ú -6 4x - y Ú - 2
3. e 4. e 17. • 2x + y … 7 18. • 2x + 3y … - 8
y … x + 2 y 7 x + 2
y Ú -3 y Ú -5
y 6 -2x - 2 y … 2x + 4
5. e 6. e 2x + y … 5 3x + y … 4
y 7 x + 4 y Ú -x - 5
… …
19. μ 20. μ
x 3 x 4
y Ú -x + 2 y Ú x - 5
7. e 8. e x Ú 0 x Ú 0
y … 2x + 5 y Ú - 3x + 3
y Ú 0 y Ú 0
x Ú 3y - 2x 7 y
9. e 10. e
x + 3y … 6 x + 2y 6 3
x … 2 x Ú -3
11. e 12. e
y Ú -3 y Ú -2
244 CHAPTER 4 Systems of Equations

Match each system of inequalities to the corresponding graph. 31. 82 + 1 - 132 - 41 -22
y 6 5 y 7 5 32. 1 - 122 2 + 1 - 12122 - 6
21. e 22. e
x 7 3 x 6 3
CONCEPT EXTENSIONS
y … 5 y 7 5
23. e 24. e Solve. See the Concept Check in this section.
x 6 3 x Ú 3
y … 3
A y B y 33. Describe the solution of the system: e .
y Ú 3
7 7
x … 5
34. Describe the solution of the system: e
6 6
5 .
5
4
x … 3
4
3 3
2 2 35. Explain how to decide which y

1 1 region to shade to show the 5

x 5 4 3 2 1 x solution region of the fol- 4
5 4 3 2 1
1 1 2 3 4 5 1 1 2 3 4 5 x3
2
lowing system. 3
2
2
3 3
x Ú 3
e
1

y Ú -2 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 x
C y D y 1
2
7 7 y  2 3
6 6 4
5 5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2 36. Tony Noellert budgets his time at work today. Part of the
1 1 day he can write bills; the rest of the day he can use to write
5 4 3 2 1
1 1 2 3 4 5 x 5 4 3 2 1
1 1 2 3 4 5 x purchase orders. The total time available is at most 8 hours.
2 2 Less than 3 hours is to be spent writing bills.
3 3
a. Write a system of inequalities to describe the situation.
(Let x = hours available for writing bills and y = hours
REVIEW available for writing purchase orders.)
Evaluate each expression. See Section 1.3. b. Graph the solutions of the system.

2 2
25. 1 - 32 2 26. 1 - 52 3 27. a b
3
3 3
28. a b
4

Perform each indicated operation. See Section 1.3.

29. 1 - 22 2 - 1 - 32 + 21 - 12
30. 52 - 11 + 31 - 52

Chapter 4 Vocabulary Check

Fill in each blank with one of the words or phrases listed below.
matrix consistent system of equations triple row
solution inconsistent element column
1. Two or more linear equations in two variables form a(n) .

2. A(n) of a system of two equations in two variables is an ordered pair that makes both equations true.

3. A(n) system of equations has at least one solution.