Answer:
To graph the function f(x) = x^2 - 12, shift the graph of y = x^2 down 12 units.
Explanation:
In the function f(x) = x^2 - 12, the "-12" term represents a vertical shift downward of the graph of the function y = x^2. This means that every point on the graph of f(x) will be 12 units below the corresponding point on the graph of y = x^2.
The number 12 is used as the vertical shift because it is the value of the constant term "-12" in the function f(x) = x^2 - 12. If the constant term were a different value, such as "-5" or "3", the graph of the function would be shifted down by a different number of units.
Therefore, in order to graph the function f(x) = x^2 - 12, we need to shift the graph of y = x^2 down 12 units.