#color(blue)(1->)#The general shape of the graph #y=x^2 # is that of #uu#
#color(blue)(2->)#The -4 lowers the graph of #y=x^2# by 4
#color(blue)(3->)#Putting a minus sign in front of the #x^2# so that we have #y=-x^2-4# turns the whole thing upside. Now we have the general shape #nn#
#color(blue)(4->)#the #1/3# in #y=-1/3x-4# has the effect of widening the graph