Final answer:
The function 5x² is a vertical stretch by a factor of 5 compared to the function 2x².
Step-by-step explanation:
When comparing the functions 5x² and 2x², we look at the coefficient in front of the x² term to determine the type of transformation. The coefficient tells us how the graph of the function is being stretched or shrunk. In this case, since 5 is greater than 2, the function 5x² represents a vertical stretch by a factor of 5 when compared to the function 2x². It is not a horizontal shrink; horizontal changes are related to transformations inside the function affecting the x variable, not the coefficient in front of x², which affects the vertical scaling.