A parabola opens upward or downward. The coefficient a in the quadratic equation determines the direction in which the parabola opens. If the coefficient is positive, it opens upward; if negative ...

y = x² + 6 - moves the parabola 6 places up the y axis y = x² – 7 - moves the parabola 7 places down the y axis In the video, the 2D curve of the Lovell Telescope dish is a parabola.