To figure out if a quadratic shape opens up or down, we need to look at its equation in this form:

$$y = ax^2 + bx + c$$

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Find 'a':
   • If a is greater than 0 (like 1, 2, or 3), the shape opens upwards. It looks like a "U" and has a lowest point.
   • If a is less than 0 (like -1, -2, or -3), the shape opens downwards. It looks like an upside-down "U" or "∩" and has a highest point.

Let’s see some examples:

Example 1: For the equation $y = 2x^2 + 3x + 1$, we see that a = 2, which is more than 0. So, this shape opens upwards.

Example 2: For the equation $y = -x^2 + 4x - 5$, here, a = -1, which is less than 0. Thus, this shape opens downwards.

So, by just looking at the number 'a', you can easily tell which way the quadratic shape opens!