TI-84 Graphing Inequalities: Step-by-Step Guide for TI-84 Plus CE

Graphing inequalities by hand can feel slow and messy, with lines, shading, and dashed borders all at once. The good news: TI-84 graphing inequalities are simple once you know where to look on your calculator.

This guide covers how to graph inequalities on a TI-84 Plus CE, shade the correct region, and graph a full system of inequalities. There are two ways to do this: using the standard Y= editor’s graph styles or using the built-in Inequality Graphing App. If you don’t have your calculator on hand, you can follow along using our TI-84 graphing calculator online instead. These steps apply to the TI-84 Plus CE, though menu appearance can vary slightly by OS version. See our TI-84 Plus CE OS guide if your screens look different from the ones described here.

Make sure your inequality is solved for y before you touch the calculator. For example:
y > 2x + 1
y ≤ -x + 3

If it isn’t in this form yet, rearrange it first. This one step makes entering it into the calculator much faster. If you’d rather practice on general equation-solving first, our guide on how to solve equations on a TI-84 calculator covers the basics.

It helps to know upfront that the standard Y= editor does not let you type an inequality symbol directly. Texas Instruments’ own documentation on graphing inequalities confirms this: the Y= editor accepts a regular function, and you use its graph style options to shade the solution region above or below that line. If you want to enter inequality symbols directly and see intersections or unions of multiple inequalities shaded automatically, you need the Inequality Graphing App, which comes preloaded on the TI-84 Plus CE.

Both methods are covered below.

Understanding Inequality Symbols on TI-84

Each inequality symbol tells you how to shade:

Greater than (>) – shade above the line, dashed boundary line. Less than (<) – shade below the line, dashed boundary line. Greater than or equal to (≥)—shade above the line, solid boundary line. Less than or equal to (≤) shade below the line, solid boundary line

In the standard Y= editor, you pick the matching graph style yourself; in the Inequality Graphing App, the solid or dashed line is drawn automatically once you select the symbol.

How to Shade Inequalities on TI-84

Shading is where most students get confused, but it’s actually the easiest part once you understand the icons in the Y= editor.

The triangle pointing up icon shades above the line (for > or ≥). The triangle pointing down icon shades below the line (for < or ≤).

To check that your shading is correct, use a test point, usually (0,0), if it’s not on the line. Plug it into your original inequality. If it works, the shaded region should include that point.

TI-84 Graphing Inequalities for a System of Equations

Graphing a system of inequalities just means graphing more than one inequality at once and finding where the shaded regions overlap.

Using the standard Y= editor, enter your first inequality in Y1 and set its shading style, then enter your second inequality in Y2 and set its shading style, then press GRAPH. Look for the area where both shaded regions overlap; that’s your solution set.

Using the Inequality Graphing App: enter both inequalities with their relation symbols, and the app will shade the intersection and union directly, which is faster for confirming multi-inequality solutions without eyeballing the overlap yourself.

Example: Graph y > 2x + 1 on a TI-84 Plus CE

Here’s the full process using the standard Y= editor:

Start with y > 2x + 1. Identify the boundary line: y = 2x + 1. Because the symbol is >, the boundary line is not included (dashed). In the Y= editor, enter 2x + 1 next to Y1, then select the shading style that shades above the line. Press GRAPH. Verify with a test point, such as (0,0). Since 0 > 2(0) + 1 is false, the shaded region should be above the line, not the side containing (0,0).

This same process works for graphing inequalities on a TI-84 in general; whether the boundary is linear or quadratic, you can graph many quadratic inequalities by entering the boundary function (like x² – 4) and selecting the matching shading style, then confirming the result with a test point.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting to solve for y before entering the equation, typing the inequality symbol directly into the standard Y= editor, where it isn’t supported, mixing up solid and dashed boundary lines, leaving the graph window on the wrong zoom; press ZOOM, then 6, for a standard view. Choosing the wrong shading direction

Checking your x and y values against a test point takes a few seconds and saves you from a wrong answer.

Final Thoughts

Once you know the difference between the Y= editor’s graph styles and the Inequality Graphing App, TI-84 graphing inequalities becomes a quick, repeatable process either way. Solve for y, pick your method, choose your shading or symbol, and let the calculator do the rest. This workflow follows Texas Instruments’ own documentation for the Y= editor and the Inequality Graphing App, so it holds up whether you’re working on linear inequalities or a full system in algebra class.

Try it yourself on your TI-84 Plus CE with a simple inequality like y > x + 2, and see how fast you can get a clean, accurate graph. Practice with a few systems next, and you’ll have this skill mastered in no time.