Question: What are the coordinates of the point $M$ after a 90 degree clockwise rotation followed by a translation up 2 units?
1. **State the problem:** We need to find the new coordinates of point $M(2, -4)$ after a 90 degree clockwise rotation and then a translation up 2 units.
2. **Rotation formula:** A 90 degree clockwise rotation about the origin transforms a point $(x, y)$ to $(y, -x)$.
3. **Apply rotation:** For $M(2, -4)$, after rotation:
$$ (x', y') = (-4, -2) $$
4. **Translation formula:** Translating a point up 2 units means adding 2 to the $y$-coordinate:
$$ (x'', y'') = (x', y' + 2) $$
5. **Apply translation:**
$$ (x'', y'') = (-4, -2 + 2) = (-4, 0) $$
6. **Final answer:** The coordinates of $M$ after the transformations are $\boxed{(-4, 0)}$.