QUADRATIC

INEQUALITIES
 GRAPHING A QUADRATIC
INEQUALITY IN TWO VARIABLES

y < ax2 +bx +c y ≤ ax2 +bx +c

y > ax2 +bx +c y ≥ ax2 +bx +c

 Draw parabola with equation y = ax2 +bx +c . Make the parabola

dashed for inequalities with < or > and solid for inequalities with ≤ or ≥ .
 Choose a point (x,y) inside the parabola and check whether the point is
a solution of the inequality.
 If a point (x,y) is a solution, shade the region inside the parabola. If it is
not the solution, shade the region outside the parabola.
 EXAMPLE
y

Graph y > x2 -2x -3

Solution:
Graph y = x2 -2x -3. Since the
1
inequality is >, make parabola dashed.
Test the point (1,0) inside the
parabola. y > x2 -2x -3 0 ·(1,0) 4 x
0 > 12-2(1)-3
0 > -4
So, (1,0) is a solution of the inequality.
Shade the region inside the parabola.
 GRAPHING A SYSTEM OF
QUADRATIC INEQUALITY
Graph the system of quadratic inequalities.
y≥x2-4 Inequality 1 y
y<-x2-x+2 Inequality 2

Solution: y≥x2-4
1. Graph the inequality y≥x2-4. The graph is
in red region inside and including the x
parabola y = x2-4.
2. Graph the inequality y<-x2-x+2. The
graph is in blue region inside (but not
including) the parabola y = -x2-x+2.
3. Identify the region where two graphs y<-x2-x+2.
overlap. This region is the graph of the
system.
 SOLVING A QUADRATIC
INEQUALITY ALGEBRAICALLY
Solve:
x2 + 2x ≤ 8

Solution:
First replace the inequality symbol with equal sign.
x2 + 2x = 8
x2 + 2x - 8 = 0
(x+4)(x-2) = 0
x = - 4 or x = 2

The numbers -4 and 2 are the critical x-values of the inequality x2 + 2x

≤ 8. Plot -4 and 2 on a number line.
 SOLUTION (contd.)

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
These critical x-values partition the number line into three intervals.

Test x = -5, (-5)2 + 2(-5) = 15 ≤ 8

Test x = 0, (0)2 +2(0) = 0 ≤ 8
Test x = 3, (3)2 + 2(3) = 15 ≤ 8
Hence the solution is -4 ≤ x ≤ 2.