Question

y = (x +4)2+1
Vertex
Value of a
Opens

Answer 1

A parabola opens out on a coordinate plane with x-intercepts at (negative 2, 0) and (2, 0) and a y-intercept at the vertex (0, negative 4).

Parabollas are curves that open to the upside or to the downside.
We say the parabolla has a minimum when it opens upside down.
When the parabola widens to the downward, we say it has reached its maximum.
The vertex defines either the minimum or maximum point.
As you can see, the last option is the only one that opens up; as a result, it has the lowest vertex value.