How do you graph #3x+y<5#?

1 Answer
Jun 22, 2015
  1. The first step is to treat the inequality as an equality.
    #3x + y = 5#

  2. Then find coordinates that will create the border of the area that is represented by the inequality.
    (I usually rewrite the equation into slope-intercept form
    #y = -3x + 5# and graph that.)

  3. Instead of graphing a straight line use a dotted line, since the original inequality #3x + y < 5# is less than rather then less than or equal.
    graph{3x + y < 5 [-10, 10, -5, 5]}

  4. To decide which side of the line to graph, pick a coordinate pair on either side of dotted line. (I usually use #(0, 0)# ) and see if it makes the inequality true.
    ex. Is #(0, 0) # part of the solution set ?
    #3x + y < 5#
    #3(0) +0 < 5#
    #0 < 5 # is a true statement so the left side of the dotted line should be shaded

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