Lesson 03 · Half-planes & overlap

Systems of Inequalities

Turn each linear inequality into a boundary plus a half-plane, then keep only the coordinate-plane region that satisfies every constraint at once.

The learner question

How does an inequality become an area instead of a line?

The related equation draws the boundary. The inequality chooses one side of that boundary. A system keeps only the points that survive every half-plane constraint.

Boundary grammar
< or > → dashed boundary
≤ or ≥ → solid boundary

Strict inequalities exclude the boundary line. Inclusive inequalities keep it.

Worked model

Boundary first, test point second, shading third.

For y ≥ x + 1, first draw y = x + 1 as a solid line. A test point such as (0, 2) makes 2 ≥ 1 true, so the half-plane containing that point is allowed.

A: y x + 1
test: (0, 2) ✓
01
Draw the boundary
y = x + 1

Because ≥ includes equality, the boundary is solid.

02
Test one side
(0,2): 2 ≥ 1 ✓

The test point satisfies the inequality, so its side is allowed.

03
Shade the half-plane
y ≥ x + 1

Every point on the accepted side satisfies the same constraint.

y > or y ≥
shade above

The allowed y-values are greater than the boundary value for each x.

y < or y ≤
shade below

The allowed y-values are less than the boundary value for each x.

System
A ∩ B

Keep only points that survive every shaded constraint.

Feasible-region builder

Build each half-plane, then intersect them.

A: y x + 1
Constraint A
y x + 1

Which side of the boundary satisfies this inequality?

Check transferFresh cases, same underlying idea
Systems of Inequalities check1 / 3

How should the boundary y = 2x + 1 be drawn for y > 2x + 1?