First, let's understand how it opens. A parabola equation have one of the following forms
[tex]y=a(x-h)^2+k[/tex]
Or
[tex]x=a(y-h)^2+k[/tex]
Both are written in vertex form. If we have the first equation, the parabola opens upward(if a > 0) or downward(if a < 0), if we have the second equation it opens to the left(if a < 0) or to the right(if a > 0).
Our equation is
[tex]y=\frac{1}{4}(x+2)^2-4[/tex]
Comparing to our equations written in standard form, we have the first equation with a positive a, therefore, this parabola opens upward.
