Make a T-chart with two columns. At the top, label one column "x" and the second column "y."
Write the numbers -4, -2, 0, 2 and 4 down the "x" column.
Substitute each "x" value into the equation. For example, assume the example is y = x^2 + 3x + 9.
For x = -4, y = (-4)^2 + 3(-4) + 9. This becomes 16 + (-12) + 9, or 13.
In your chart, across from "-4" in the "x" column, write "13" in the "y" column.
Proceed likewise for the other numbers in the "x" column.
Draw a horizontal "x" axis and a vertical "y" axis, intersecting one another on your graph paper. Label the origin (the crossing point between the two axes) "0" for both "x" and "y." Then, on the "x" axis, label the points -4, -2, 2 and 4.
Graph each of the points from your columns. In the example of the ordered pair (-4,13) that you found in Step 3, start at the origin (0,0) and move left along the "x" axis to -4, then up 13 lines. Draw a point where the "-4" line on the "x" axis and the "13" line on the "y" axis intersect.
Draw a line that goes through all five of the points. Because this is a quadratic equation, meaning that the value of the "x" exponent in the equation is 2, you will have a parabola. Draw arrow tips on the end of each end of your curve, indicating that the curve continues for more values of "x" and "y."
Erase sections of the curve, turning it into a dotted curve instead of a solid curve. Then, shade in all of the graph below the curve. The reason for this is that your curve doesn't actually contain any solutions. If this were an equation, the line would contain the solutions. Since your inequality calls for "less than," your solutions are found in the shaded area. If you have a "less than or equal to," then there would be a line under the "<" sign in your inequality, and the solutions would consist of the shaded area and the line. If you have a "greater than" (>) sign, the solutions would be above the curve. This shading applies for inequalities no matter what shape the graph turns out to be.