Question: what does a positive leading coefficient look like?
Answer: Leading Coefficients and Graphs We see that the graph of y = x^2 + 2, which has a positive leading coefficient, looks like the letter 'U,' and the graph of y = -x^2 + 2, with a negative leading coefficient, looks like an upside down 'U. ' Changing the sign on the leading coefficient changed the direction of the graph.