Final answer:
A parent function is a basic, untransformed function that serves as a starting point for the graph of related functions. To find the parent function, you need to identify the type of function based on its algebraic form and characteristics.
Step-by-step explanation:
A parent function is a basic, untransformed function that serves as a starting point for the graph of related functions. It represents a family of functions that can be obtained by applying various transformations to the parent function.
The most commonly used parent functions include linear, quadratic, cubic, square root, absolute value, exponential, and logarithmic functions. To find the parent function, you need to identify the type of function based on its algebraic form and characteristics.
For example, the parent function for linear functions is y = x, for quadratic functions it is y = x^2, and for exponential functions it is y = e^x.