Which equation represents the quadratic parent function shifted to the left two units?

Question 4 options:

y = (x-2) 2

y = (x+2) 2

y=x2-2

y=x2+2

This is tricky.

In quadratic functions, left and right shifts seem opposite to their orientation on the xy plane.

A positive value in parentheses denotes a shift to the left while a negative denotes a shift to the right.

For instance, in this question, y = (x + 2) ^2 represents a shift to the left.

The two options without the parentheses represent up and down shifts, but these are not backwards. y = x^2 + 2 is a shift up two units.

Therefore, y = (x + 2) ^2 is your answer.