A parabola is defined by the equation (x - 5) 2 = 12 (y + 2). In which direction will the parabola open?

Since the equation is in the form:

(1/a) (y - k) = (x - h) 2

Then, the parabola will open either upward or downward. To tell which direction will the parabola open, the coefficient of the term:

(y - k)

must be inspected.

The coefficient is 12 and it is a positive number, therefore, the parabola will open upward.