Question

What is the shape of the graph y = x2 - 12



a straight line

v shaped

u shaped

Answer 1

The graph of the equation \( y = x^2 - 12 \) is a **U-shaped** curve. This is a quadratic function, and its general form \( y = ax^2 + bx + c \) (where \( a > 0 \)) always produces a U-shaped graph known as a parabola. In this case, the graph opens upwards because the coefficient of \( x^2 \) is positive. The vertex of the parabola would be at the point where \( x = 0 \), giving a minimum value of \( y = -12 \).