Final answer:
The graph of y = -x² is shifted 4 units down to obtain the graph of y = -x² - 4.
Step-by-step explanation:
To translate the graph y = -x² to produce the graph of y = -x² - 4, you need to understand what happens when you add a constant to the function. In this case, adding -4 (which is the same as subtracting 4) to the entire function results in shifting the graph vertically. Since we are adding a negative number, the entire graph shifts 4 units down in the coordinate system. This is because each y-value on the graph of y = -x² is decreased by 4 units, causing the whole parabola to shift vertically downward.