Choice A is the correct answer.

1. The coefficient is $a = 1/2$.
2. Since $0 < |a| < 1$, the graph is vertically compressed (squashed) towards the x-axis.
3. This makes the parabola appear wider than the standard $y=x^2$.

Choice B is incorrect because that requires $|a| > 1$. Choice C is incorrect because there is no horizontal shift. Choice D is incorrect because $a$ is positive.