The graph begins at zero because we cannot take the square root of a negative number.
Could we alter the parent function to make the graph begin to the left of the vertical axis?
Yes we can by adding plus 2.
f(x) = √(x + 2) or it can be written in exponential form f(x) = (x + 2)½
Below is the graph of the parent function. f(x) = √x
Below is the graph of the function f(x) = √(x + 2)
Notice that to moved the parent function two places to the left we added 2 to the x and enclosed the result in a
set of parentheses. By enclosing the x + 2 it tells us that the x and 2 are both under the radical sign.