16Hit1600
Advanced MathHardTranslating a parabola so its vertex is at the origin

Advanced Math practice question

In the xy-plane, the graph of y = x² − 2x − 3 is translated so that its vertex lies at the origin. Which of the following is an equation of the translated graph?

  1. A. y = x²Correct
  2. B. y = (x − 1)² − 4
  3. C. y = x² + 4
  4. D. y = (x + 1)²

Answer: A. y = x²

The vertex of y = (x − 1)² − 4 is (1, −4). Moving it to (0, 0) removes both shifts, leaving y = x².

Why the other answers are wrong

B. y = (x − 1)² − 4
That is the original graph, with its vertex still at (1, −4).
C. y = x² + 4
y = x² + 4 has its vertex at (0, 4).
D. y = (x + 1)²
y = (x + 1)² has its vertex at (−1, 0).

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