Completing the square:

2x^2 + 5x + 1 = 0

Divide by 2

X^2+5/2x+1/2

Subtract 1/2 and then take the middle number divide by two and the. Square it. Add it on the other side

X^2+5/2x+25/16=-1/2+25/16

Take x + 5/4 squared

(X+5/4) ^2=17/16

Subtract 5/4

X=-3/16

Or if you don't need x it would be (x+5/4) ^2+17/16