Final answer:
A parabola can be vertically stretched or compressed and can have horizontal and vertical shifts.
Step-by-step explanation:
A parabola can be vertically stretched (narrowed) or compressed (widened) depending on the value of the coefficient of the quadratic term. If the coefficient is greater than 1, the parabola is vertically stretched, and if it is less than 1, the parabola is vertically compressed. The horizontal shift of a parabola can be determined by the value of the term involving x in the equation. If the term is positive, the parabola shifts to the left, and if it is negative, the parabola shifts to the right. The vertical shift of a parabola can be determined by the constant term in the equation. If the constant term is positive, the parabola shifts upward, and if it is negative, the parabola shifts downward.