We are asked to determine the opening of the graph of the given equation y² + 16y - 4x + 4= 0. To answer this problem, we need to transform the equation into the standard form where all variable y and variable x are in opposite side such as shown below:
y² + 16y - 4x + 4 = 0
y² + 16y = 4x - 4
y² + 16y + 64 = 4x - 4 +64
(y + 8)² = 4x + 60
Then, the graph opens to the right.