This is a parabola.....In this form.....when the coefficient in front of x is negative
y = -ax^2 + bx + c.....we have a parabola that opens downward with the vertex the highest point on the graph
So......we have
y = (-1)x^2 + (-2)x + 8
The x coordinate of the vertex is given by -b/ [ 2a]
So b = -2 and a = -1
So....the x coordinate of the vertex = - (-2) / [2 (-1)] = 2/-2 = -1
Since this is the highest point on the graph of this parabola....the function will increase on this interval : (-inf, -1 )
However we must find out where the parabola is positive......we can find the x intercepts by letting y =0 and solving for x....so we have
0 = -x^2 -2x + 8 multiply through by -1
0 =x^2 + 2x - 8 factor
0 = (x - 2) ( x + 4)
Setting each factor to 0 and solving for x produces the x intercepts of x = 2 and x = -4
So......the graph will be positive and increasing from -4 < x < -1
See the graph here to get a feel for this :
https://www.desmos.com/calculator/bkyaq6zmzv