The equation below describes a parabola. If a is positive which way does the parabola open?

If the coefficient ( a ) in the equation of a parabola (typically given in the form ( y = ax^2 + bx + c )) is positive, the parabola opens upwards. This means that the vertex of the parabola is the lowest point, and as you move away from the vertex in either direction along the x-axis, the y-values increase.