Answer: Because the a-value is negative.
Step-by-step explanation:
The vertex form of a quadratic equation is: y = a(x - h)² + k where
- "a" is the vertical stretch
- -a is a reflection over the x-axis
- h is the horizontal shift (positive = right, negative = left)
- k is the vertical shift (positive = up, negative = down)
Given: g(x) = - (x + 1)² - 3
↓
a= -1
Since the a-value is negative, the parabola will be reflected over the x-axis which will change the curve from (U-shaped) to (∩-shaped).
