in short, for a vertical parabola, namely one whose independent variable is on the x-axis, usually is x², if the leading term coefficient is negative, the parabola opens downward, and its peak or vertex is at a maximum, check the picture below at the left-hand-side.
and when the leading term coefficient is positive, the parabola opens upwards, with a minimum, check the picture below at the right-hand-side.
