Example

Example: Solving Hugh's Part-Time Jobs Application with a Linear Inequality in Two Variables

To solve a real-world application involving combinations of two quantities, you can map the problem to an algebraic inequality.

Consider Hugh, who works at a grocery store paying 1010 dollars an hour and babysits for 1313 dollars an hour. He wants to earn at least 260260 dollars a week. Translate into an inequality: Let xx be the grocery store hours and yy be the babysitting hours. The inequality modeling this situation is 10x+13y26010x + 13y \geq 260. Graph the inequality: Convert the inequality to slope-intercept form to find the boundary line: 13y10x+26013y \geq -10x + 260 y1013x+20y \geq -\frac{10}{13}x + 20 Graph the solid boundary line corresponding to this equation and shade the appropriate half-plane to represent the solution set. Find solutions: Any ordered pair (x,y)(x, y) within the shaded region or on the solid boundary line represents a valid combination of hours Hugh can work at each job to earn at least 260260 dollars.

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Updated 2026-04-23

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