Final answer:
The parabola represented by the given quadratic function opens upward.
Step-by-step explanation:
The given quadratic function is f(x) = 7x² + 12x - 5. To determine whether the parabola opens upward or downward, we need to look at the coefficient of the x² term. In this function, the coefficient of x² is 7, which is positive.
When the coefficient of x² in a quadratic function is positive, the parabola opens upward. Therefore, the parabola represented by the given function opens upward.