Multiple choice! In the function y=1/4^2 what effect does the number 1/4 have comparing to the graph of y=x^2
A. It shrinks the graph horizontally to 1/4 its original width.
B. It shrinks the graph vertically to 1/4 its original height.
C. It stretches the graph vertically by a factor of 4.
D. It stretches the graph horizontally by a factor of 4.
The answer is D assuming the equation is y=(1/4x)^2. If a number is attached to the x, the graph shows the reciprocal of the number and affects the graph horizontally. If the equation is y=1/4(x^2) then the answer is B, since it is affecting the equation as a whole and not just the x.
