Question

The parabola passes through coordinates left parenthesis
negative 8 comma negative 6 right parenthesis, left parenthesis
negative 6 comma 6 right parenthesis, left parenthesis negative
4 comma 10 right parenthesis, left parenthesis negative 2
comma 6 right parenthesis, and left parenthesis 0 comma
negative 6 right parenthesis.
Determine whether the a-value is positive or negative. Provide
an appropriate reason.
(1 point)
The a-value is negative because the graph is of a parabola
that opens down.
The a-value is negative because the x-intercepts are negative.
The a-value is negative because the y-intercept is negative.
The a-value is positive because the graph is of a parabola that
opens up.

Answer 1

The a-value is negative because the parabola opens downward — the vertex at (-4, 10) is a maximum (points on either side have smaller y), so the parabola opens down.