Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Your notes

Maths: Extended
Solving & Graphing Inequalities
Contents
Representing Inequalities as Regions
Finding Inequalities from Regions

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 Representing Inequalities as Regions
Your notes
Finding Regions using Inequalities
What are 2D inequalities?
Recall that an inequality in one variable (1D inequality) represents a relationship that is
not equal
An inequality of x < 7, represents all values smaller than 7
There are an infinite number of values than can satisfy this inequality
A 2D inequality represents a relationship between two expressions that is not equal
The inequality y > x represents all pairs of numbers x and y where the y value is
greater than the x value
There are an infinite number of pairs of values that would satisfy this inequality
These pairs of numbers can be thought of as coordinates
On a graph, all coordinates above the line y = x would satisfy this inequality
If a 2D inequality includes either the symbol ≤ or ≥, then coordinates on the line itself also
satisfies the inequality
E.g. y ≤ 2x represents all of the pairs of numbers where the value of y is less than two
lots of the value of x
This is the region below the line y = 2x, but also being on the line y = 2x satisfies
the inequality

How do we draw inequalities on a graph?

A set of 2D inequalities can be shown graphically using straight lines and shaded
regions
To draw the correct lines:
Replace the inequality sign with “=” and draw that line
Use a solid line for ≤ or ≥ (to indicate the line is included)
Use dotted line for < or > (to indicate the line is not included)
To decide which side of the line is the wanted side:
if "y ≤ ..." or "y < ..." then the wanted region is below the line
if "y ≥ ..." or "y > ..." then the wanted region is above the line
If you are unsure
substitute the coordinates from a point on one side of the line into the inequality
determine whether or not the inequality holds true on that side

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 For vertical lines:

the wanted region for x < k is to the left of x = k Your notes

the wanted region for x > k is to the right of x = k
To do the shading:
Shade the unwanted sides of each line (unless the question says otherwise)
You are shading away any parts you don't want
This will leave behind a clear region that is the wanted region (rather than trying
to look for the wanted region under multiple shades)
Label the wanted region R (unless the question says otherwise)
(Be careful if using graphing software, as some shade the wanted sides)

Worked Example
Show, graphically, the region that is satisfied by all three inequalities below:

3x + 2y ≥ 12 y < 2x x < 3
Label this region R.

+ 2y = 12, y = 2x and x = 3
First draw the three straight lines: 3x

Use your knowledge of Straight Line Graphs, y = mx + c

You may wish to rearrange 3x + 2y = 12 to the form y = mx + c first

2y = − 3x + 12
3
y=− x +6
2
The line 3x + 2y ≥ 12 is a solid line because of the "≥"
The lines y < 2x and x < 3 are dotted lines because of the "<"

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 Your notes

Now we need to shade the unwanted regions

3
For 3x + 2y ≥ 12 (or y ≥ − 2 x + 6 ), the unwanted region is below the line
We can check this with the point (0, 0)

"3 0
( ) + 2 0 ≥ 12" is false therefore (0, 0) does lie in the unwanted region for
( )

3x + 2y ≥ 12
<
For y 2x , the unwanted region is above the line
Check with another point, for example (1, 0)

" 0 < 2 1 " is true, so (1, 0) lies in the wanted (i.e. unshaded) region for y < 2x
( )

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 <
For x 3 , shade the unwanted region to the right of x =3
If unsure, check with a point
Your notes
Finally, don't forget to label the region R

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 Finding Inequalities from Regions
Your notes
Interpreting Graphical Inequalities
How do I know which inequalities are shown on a graph
of shaded regions?
To identify the inequalities represented by the shaded regions on a graph:
Find the equation of each line on the graph
You may have to calculate the gradient and find the y-intercept to use
y = mx + c
Vertical lines have the form x=k
Horizontal lines have the form y = k

Remember that lines are drawn using:

a solid line for ≤ or ≥, indicating a line included in the region
a dotted line for < or >, indicating a line not included in the region
Replace the = sign with the relevant inequality
≤ or < if region is below line

≥ or > if region is above line

(Use a point to test if not sure)

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Always read the question carefully to see if the diagram shades the wanted region or
the unwanted region.

Worked Example
Write down the three inequalities which define the shaded region shown on the axes
below.

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 Your notes

Find the equations of the three lines shown (ignoring inequality signs for now)

=
You may be able to see the lines x 1 and y x =
= +
The other line has the form y mx c with y-intercept 7 and gradient -1

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 Your notes

Now decide which inequality signs to use

For y = x , the shaded region is above the line, and the line is dotted, so the inequality
is

y >x
If unsure, check by substituting in coordinates from the shaded region
For example, using (2, 4) as marked on the graph above

"4 > 2 " is true, so the inequality y > x is correct

For y = − + 7, the shaded region is below the line, and the line is solid, so the
x
inequality is

y ≤ −x +7
Again, check by substituting (2, 4) into the inequality

"4 ≤ − 2 + 7 " is true, so the inequality y ≤ − x + 7 is correct

For x = 1, the shaded region is to the right of the solid line so the inequality is
x ≥1

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Write all three inequalities together as your final answer

y > x , y ≤ − x + 7 and x ≥ 1 Your notes

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