How do I graph radicals?

Question

I missed a lesson of Algebra II (soccer game) and want to know how to graph radicals. Like

Y= 3 * squareroot of X
or
y= 1/2 * squareroot of X + 5

and could you tell me the transformations from the parent function.
e.g. 3 down, twice as steep, 2 to the left

Answer 1

To answer your first question, I would suggest that you substitute in values for x and plot the outcome--this will give you a feel for what is going on with these functions. In terms of your second question, adding a number to x will shift the function that many units to the right; subtracting a number shifts the function that much to the right.