What is the question? If you are only trying to expand the expression then the answer would be:
1/4 (5y-3)+ 1/16 (12y+17)
(5y/4) – (3/4) + (12y/16) + (17/16)
1.25y – 0.75 + 0.75y + 1.0625
2y + 0.3125
If you are trying to find for y, then you forgot to equate it to 0, that is:
2y + 0.3125 = 0
2y = -0.3125
y = 0.15625