1. **State the problem:** Simplify the expression $x^2 + 8x + 16 - 2x - 8 + 7$. 2. **Combine like terms:** Group the terms with $x^2$, $x$, and constants separately. 3. The expression becomes: $$x^2 + (8x - 2x) + (16 - 8 + 7)$$ 4. Simplify inside the parentheses: $$x^2 + 6x + 15$$ 5. **Final answer:** The simplified expression is: $$x^2 + 6x + 15$$ This is a quadratic expression in standard form.