Final answer:
An equation of a parabola with a vertex at (-1, 3) in vertex form is y = a(x + 1)^2 + 3, where 'a' is a positive constant that determines the width of the parabola.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find an equation of a parabola that opens upward and has a vertex (-1, 3), we can use the vertex form of a parabolic equation, which is:
y = a(x - h)^2 + k
Here, (h, k) is the vertex of the parabola. Since the vertex is given as (-1, 3), we can substitute these values into the equation, yielding:
y = a(x + 1)^2 + 3
We do not have enough information to determine the value of 'a', which affects the parabola's width and direction, but since the parabola opens upward, we know 'a' must be positive. Without additional points or information on the trajectory of the parabola, this is the most specific equation we can provide.