The format is similar to slope-intercept form: y = mx + b
[m is the slope, b is the y-intercept or the y value when x = 0 --> (0, y) or the point where the line crosses through the y-axis]
Slope is: [distance/number of units from each point]
Rise is the number of units you go up (+) or down (-) [y-axis]
Run is the number of units you go to the right [x-axis]
When the sign is > or <, the line is a dotted line
When the sign is ≤ or ≥, the line is a solid line
If y is greater than (y >) in the inequality, the shaded area is above the line
If y is less than (y <) in the inequality, the shaded area is below the line
First you need to graph the line. [you could just plug in numbers for "x" into the inequality or do this} You know:
y < -2x + 1
m = -2
b = 1 or (0, 1)
You can plot the point (0, 1), then use the slope to plot the next points. You go 2 units down and 1 unit to the right, so the next point is (1, -1). You can plot one more point (2, -3) and draw a line. Since the sign is <, the line is dotted. And since y <, the shaded area is below the line.