To find the value of h, we use this formula h = -b/(2a) h = -(-4)/(2*(1)) h = 4/2 h = 2
Plug this back into the original function to find k k = x^2-4x-17 k = (2)^2-4(2)-17 k = 4-8-17 k = -4-17 k = -21
So we know that a = 1, h = 2 and k = -21 making y = a(x-h)^2 + k turn into y = 1(x-2)^2 - 21 which is now in vertex form. The vertex is (h,k) = (2,-21)