Example

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

To find valid solutions for a financial requirement involving two distinct sources of income, an algebraic model using a linear inequality in two variables can be graphed.

Consider Veronica, whose job at a day spa pays 1010 dollars an hour and administrative assistant job pays 17.5017.50 dollars an hour. She needs to earn at least 280280 dollars a week. Translate into an inequality: Let xx be the day spa hours and yy be the administrative assistant hours. The conditional model is 10x+17.50y28010x + 17.50y \geq 280. Graph the inequality: Find the boundary line by converting to slope-intercept form: 10x+17.5y28010x + 17.5y \geq 280 17.5y10x+28017.5y \geq -10x + 280 y1017.5x+16y \geq -\frac{10}{17.5}x + 16 This simplifies to y47x+16y \geq -\frac{4}{7}x + 16. Graph the solid boundary line corresponding to this equation and shade the solution region above the line. Find solutions: Any valid ordered pair within the shaded area represents a combination of hours Veronica can work at each job to earn at least 280280 dollars.

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Updated 2026-04-23

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