16Hit1600
Advanced MathEasy–MediumEquation of a shifted parabola

Advanced Math practice question

The graph of y = x² in the xy-plane is shifted 2 units to the left and 5 units down. Which of the following is an equation of the resulting graph?

  1. A. y = (x + 2)² − 5Correct
  2. B. y = (x − 2)² − 5
  3. C. y = (x + 2)² + 5
  4. D. y = (x − 2)² + 5

Answer: A. y = (x + 2)² − 5

A shift left replaces x with x + 2; a shift down subtracts 5.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. y = (x − 2)² − 5
x − 2 shifts the graph right.
C. y = (x + 2)² + 5
+5 shifts the graph up.
D. y = (x − 2)² + 5
Both directions are reversed.

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