How is the graph of the parent function y is equal to x squared transformed to produce the graph of y is equal to 3 times open paren x plus 1 close paren squared ?

In y = 3(x + 1)², the +1 inside the squared expression shifts the parent graph y = x² one unit to the left. The factor 3 outside multiplies every y-value by 3, so the graph is stretched vertically by a factor of 3. Therefore, the correct choice is C: translated 1 unit left and stretched vertically by a factor of 3.

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