How is the graph of g(x)=6+4/3x^2 related to the graph of f(x)=x^2?

1 Answer
Jun 26, 2017

By comparing graphs, we observe that multiplying the square term by an number greater than 1 makes the parabola rise more sharply and adding a constant shifts it vertically.

Explanation:

Please observe the graphs y = x^2 (in red), y = 4/3x^2 (in blue) and y = 1/3x^2 (in green)

![Desmos.com](useruploads.socratic.org)

For the equation y = ax^2; a > 0

The larger that you make the coefficient a, the greater the value of y for a given value of x; this makes the graph rise more sharply.

Please observe the graphs y = x^2 (in blue) and y = x^2+6 (in red) the latter is shifted vertically by 6.
![Desmos.com](useruploads.socratic.org)