Final answer:
The value of k represents the horizontal shift of a function's graph. It is determined by the horizontal displacement from the origin, and using an equation grapher can help visualize how changes in k affect the graph.
Step-by-step explanation:
The value of k in the function f(x) = a(x+k)1/*+c represents the horizontal shift of the graph. If the graph of the function is shifted to the right of the origin, then k is negative. Conversely, if the graph is shifted to the left, then k is positive. The value of k can affect the graph's shape and its position on the coordinate plane.
When you are given a graph of a radical function, you can determine the value of k by looking at the horizontal displacement of the graph from x = 0. If the graph crosses the x-axis at a point that is not the origin, this x-intercept represents the value -k in the function f(x).
A good way to observe the change in k is using an equation grapher, which allows you to see how variations in k can translate into different horizontal translations of a graph.