Algebra 1A “Sketch the region defined by a linear inequality”

A linear inequality is a mathematical statement that defines a range of values using a

straight line. It is made up of an inequality sign (≤, ≥, <, or >) and two terms on either
side of the sign, representing a line on a coordinate plane. The goal of sketching the
region defined by a linear inequality is to graph the line and find the set of all points
that satisfy the inequality.

To graph a linear inequality, first rewrite it in slope-intercept form, which is y = mx +

b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept. This makes it easier to plot the line
and identify the direction of the inequality.

Next, use the slope and y-intercept to plot two points on the coordinate plane and
connect them with a line. For example, if the inequality is y ≤ 2x + 1, we can plot the
points (0, 1) and (1, 3) and connect them to form a line.

Once the line is graphed, we can determine which side of the line the solution set lies
on. This depends on the inequality sign used in the original inequality. If the
inequality sign is ≥ or ≤, then the solution set includes all points on the line. If the
inequality sign is > or <, then the solution set does not include points on the line.

To find the solution set, we shade the region that satisfies the inequality. If the
inequality sign is ≥ or ≤, shade the region on both sides of the line. If the inequality
sign is > or <, shade the region on one side of the line, depending on the direction of
the inequality.

In conclusion, sketching the region defined by a linear inequality involves

transforming the inequality into slope-intercept form, plotting the line, and shading
the appropriate region. This method is a useful tool for visualizing the solution set
and finding all points that satisfy the inequality. By understanding this process,
algebra 1A students can effectively solve and graph linear inequalities.