You can
put this solution on YOUR website!Given

, the x-coordinate of the vertex of the parabola is given by

, hence the axis of symmetry is

. The y-coordinate of the vertex is the value of the function at the x-coordinate of the vertex. So the vertex is at
(
,
)
The x-intercepts are the values of x that make the function = 0, so set your function equal to 0 and solve the quadratic equation. If you end up with real roots, the x-intercepts are (x1,0) and (x2,0). If you end up with a conjugate pair of complex roots, then there are no x-intercepts.
The y-intercept is the value of the function at 0, so substitute 0 for x and do the arithmetic. The y intercept is (0,f(0))
And you are right, it does open up. A parabola opens upward whenever

, and downward when