Now apply to your problem. First factor out the '4' in front of the 'x^2' term [tex]y = 4(x^2 + \frac{7}{4}x)[/tex] Apply completing the square: [tex]y = 4(x^2 + \frac{7}{4}x +(\frac{7/4}{2})^2 -(\frac{7/4}{2})^2) \\ \\ y = 4[(x^2 + \frac{7}{4}x+\frac{49}{64}) - \frac{49}{64} ] \\ \\ y = 4(x + \frac{7}{8})^2 - \frac{49}{16}[/tex]