# ValueError: left cannot be >= right, but left=0.5, right=0.3

- **ID:** `python/matplotlib-subplots-adjust-error`
- **Domain:** python
- **Category:** config_error
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 80%

## Root Cause

Calling plt.subplots_adjust() with inconsistent parameters where left is greater than or equal to right, or bottom >= top.

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| 3.7 | active | — | — |
| 3.8 | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **Ensure left is less than right and bottom less than top** (95% success)
   ```
   plt.subplots_adjust(left=0.1, right=0.9, bottom=0.1, top=0.9)
   ```
2. **Use tight_layout() or constrained_layout instead** (90% success)
   ```
   plt.tight_layout()
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **Using negative values for left and right** — Negative values are allowed but must still satisfy left < right. (70% fail)
- **Swapping left and right values** — If left > right, swapping them fixes the error, but the layout may not be intended. (50% fail)