Question 865400
Start with y = x^2. This is a parabola that opens upward.



Vertically compress the graph of y = x^2 by a factor of 2 to get y = 0.5x^2 (so it's half as high as before, it's vertically "squished" a bit)



Then shift y = 0.5x^2 two units down to get y = 0.5x^2 - 2



Here are the graphs of <font color="green">y = x^2</font>, <font color="blue">y = 0.5x^2</font>, and <font color="purple">y = 0.5x^2 - 2</font>


{{{ drawing(500, 500, -10, 10, -10, 10,
 graph( 500, 500, -10, 10, -10, 10,0,x^2,0.5x^2,0.5x^2-2)

)}}}