How does the function y = x^3 appear on a graph compared to y = x^2?

The function y = x^3 exhibits unique characteristics compared to y = x^2. The graph of y = x^3 is indeed different from that of y = x^2 in that it has an "S" shape, rising steeply in positive and negative directions. As x approaches large positive values, y also increases significantly, and as x approaches large negative values, y decreases steeply. This creates a clear slant to the right.

In contrast, the graph of y = x^2 is a parabola that opens upwards and is symmetrical around the y-axis, meaning both sides are mirror images of each other but do not feature the same slanted behavior as seen in the cubic function. The cubic function does not possess any symmetry along the vertical axis; instead, it intersects the origin and has different rates of change in different areas of the graph.

Thus, the correct choice reflects that the graph of y = x^3 is flipped upside down in terms of symmetry compared to y = x^2, while also slanting to the right, illustrating its increasing and decreasing behavior across different values of x.