Use an open circle when the graph does not include the point such as x > 7 or x < 25. The inequality sign always opens to the larger number as in x > 7 is x is greater than 7. So we shade on the larger sign. The sign points to the smaller number as in x < 25 is x is smaller than 25 so shade smaller. 23 4 24 5 25 6 26 7 27 8 28 9 Use a closed circle when the graph does include the point such as x ≥ 7 or x ≤ 25. The inequality sign always opens to the larger number as in x ≥ 7 is x is greater than or equal to 7. So we shade on the larger sign. The sign points to the smaller number as in x ≤ 25 is x is smaller than or equal to 25 so shade smaller. 23 4 24 5 25 6 26 7 27 8 28 9 B A Greater than, more than (>) Less than (<) Greater than or equal to, at least (≥) Less than or equal to, no more than or at most (≤) 4 4 5 5 at least 5 6 6 C D 4 4 5 5 6 6 B A Greater than, more than (>) Less than (<) Greater than or equal to, at least (≥) Less than or equal to, no more than or at most (≤) 4 4 5 5 more than 5 6 6 C D 4 4 5 5 6 6 B A Greater than, more than (>) Less than (<) Greater than or equal to, at least (≥) Less than or equal to, no more than or at most (≤) 4 4 5 5 no more than 5 6 6 C D 4 4 5 5 6 6 B A Greater than or equal to (≥) Less than or equal to (≤) 4 4 5 5 6 6 x < 5 Greater than (>) Less than (<) C D 4 4 5 5 6 6 A B Greater than or equal to (≥) Less than or equal to (≤) 4 4 5 5 6 6 x ≤ 5 Greater than (>) Less than (<) C D 4 4 5 5 6 6 B A Greater than or equal to (≥) Less than or equal to (≤) 4 4 5 5 6 6 x ≥ 5 Greater than (>) Less than (<) C D 4 4 5 5 6 6 B A Greater than or equal to (≥) Less than or equal to (≤) 4 4 5 5 6 6 x > 5 Greater than (>) Less than (<) C D 4 4 5 5 6 6 B A -4 -4 -3 -3 -2 -2 x > -3 C D -4 -4 -3 -3 -2 -2 B A -4 -4 -3 -3 -2 -2 x < -3 C D -4 -4 -3 -3 -2 -2 B A -4 -4 -3 -3 -2 -2 x ≤ -3 C D -4 -4 -3 -3 -2 -2 B A -4 -4 -3 -3 -2 -2 x ≥ -3 C D -4 -4 -3 -3 -2 -2 B A 20 20 21 21 22 22 x > 21 C D 20 20 21 21 22 22 B A 20 20 21 21 22 22 x ≥ 21 C D 20 20 21 21 22 22 B A 20 20 21 21 22 22 x < 21 C D 20 20 21 21 22 22 B A 20 20 21 21 22 22 x ≤ 21 C D 20 20 21 21 22 22 Caution! B A If the variable is on the other sign, READ from it first as in read from right to left so 21 < x would be read as x is greater 21 for shading. 20 20 21 21 22 22 21 > x C D 20 20 21 21 22 22 B A If the variable is on the other sign, READ from it first as in read from right to left so 21 ≤ x would be read as x is greater or equal to 21 for shading. 20 20 21 21 22 22 21 ≤ x C D 20 20 21 21 22 22 B A 20 20 21 21 22 22 21 < x C D 20 20 21 21 22 22 B A 20 20 21 21 22 22 21 ≥ x C D 20 20 21 21 22 22 B A Remember: Read from the variable first as is x is less than 5. 4 4 5 5 6 6 5 > x C D 4 4 5 5 6 6 B A 4 4 5 5 6 6 5 ≤ x C D 4 4 5 5 6 6 B A 4 4 5 5 6 6 5 < x C D 4 4 5 5 6 6 B A 4 4 5 5 6 6 5 ≤ x C D 4 4 5 5 6 6 |