Final answer:
The parabola in the given function opens upwards.
Step-by-step explanation:
The given function is f(x) = x^2 + 2x - 1. To determine the direction in which the parabola opens, we can analyze the coefficient of the leading term. In this case, the leading term is x^2 and its coefficient is 1, which is positive. Therefore, the parabola opens upwards. So the correct answer is A) The parabola opens up.