the equation of a vertically opening parabola is
(x - h)² = 4p(y - k)
where (h, k) are the coordinates of the vertex and p is the distance of the focus and directrix from the vertex. If 4p is positive parabola opens up and if 4p is negative parabola opens down
rearrange 12y = (x - 1)² - 48 into this form
(x - 1)² = 12y + 48
(x - 1)² = 12( y + 4) ← in standard form
Vertex = (1, - 4 )
4p = 12 ⇒ p = 3 ⇒ parabola opens upwards
the focus is above the vertex and the directrix is below the vertex in a vertically opening up parabola
Focus = (1, - 4 + 3 ) = (1, - 1)
Directrix has equation y = - 4 - 3 ⇒ y = - 7