To address this problem, let’s break it down:

The given function is:

$f(x) = \sqrt{x + 4}$

The instructions suggest starting with the basic square root function:

$g(x) = \sqrt{x}$

Transformations:

1. The "+4" inside the square root shifts the graph horizontally to the left by 4 units. This is because adding to $x$ inside a function shifts the graph in the opposite direction (left) compared to subtraction.

So the final answer is:

• Start with the graph of $g(x) = \sqrt{x}$, then shift it 4 units left.

Would you like help graphing this or choosing the correct graph? Let me know!

Here are some related questions to explore:

1. What happens when you add a number outside the square root (e.g., $f(x) = \sqrt{x} + 4$)?
2. How does the graph of $g(x) = -\sqrt{x}$ differ from $g(x) = \sqrt{x}$?
3. What are the domain and range of $f(x) = \sqrt{x + 4}$?
4. How would you reflect the graph of $f(x) = \sqrt{x + 4}$ across the $x$-axis?
5. How would the transformation change if the function were $f(x) = \sqrt{-x + 4}$?

Tip: Shifts to the left or right are always determined by the opposite sign of the number inside the function.