Question

When graphing y < -6 should the region below the line y = -6 be shaded or should the region above the line y = -6 be shaded?

Answer 1

Below.

You can check this by picking a point lower than y = -6, let's say you pick y = -10. Is -10 < -6? If -10 < -6, then you shade below y=-6.

Or if you picked y = 5 which is above the line y=-6. Is 5<-6? No, which means you're in the wrong region, so you must shade below y=-6.