Answer
If the coefficient of ${{x}^{2}}$ is positive, the parabola opens upwards, otherwise it opens downwards.
Work Step by Step
The standard form of a parabola is $y=a{{x}^{2}}+bx+c$.
To determine whether the parabola would open upwards or downwards, check the sign of the coefficient of ${{x}^{2}}$ , i.e., a. There arise two possibilities:
If $a>0$ , then the parabola would be opening upwards.
If $a<0$ , then the parabola would be opening downwards.
