The constant in this function is negative, but it is not the constant that determines whether the graph will open up or down. It is the coefficient of $\displaystyle{{x}}^{{2}}\usepackage{cmbright}\Huge\$ that determines if the graph will open up or down. The correct answer is: Down, because a (the coefficient of $\displaystyle{{x}}^{{2}}\usepackage{cmbright}\Huge\$ ) is negative.