The equation y = x^2 + 6 is not linear.
What is a linear equation?
A linear equation is an equation of a straight line, with the degree being 0 or 1 for each of its variables. In this case, the degree of variable y is 2 and the degree of variable x is 1, so the equation is not linear.
To graph the equation, we find and plot ordered-pair solutions.
For example, when x = -3, we have:
y = (-3)^2 + 6 = 15
So one ordered pair solution is (-3, 15).
Similarly, when x = -2, we have:
y = (-2)^2 + 6 = 10
So another ordered pair solution is (-2, 10).
Continuing this process, we can find more ordered-pair solutions to plot on a graph.
Thus, since the equation is not linear, the graph will not be a straight line.