Question 933943
<pre>
The 3 is really {{{9/3}}}

{{{9/3}}}, {{{7/3}}}, {{{5/3}}}, ...

This is an arithmetic sequence with first term {{{a[1]=3}}} and common
difference {{{-2/3}}}

{{{a[n]=a[1]+(n-1)d}}}

{{{-17=3+(n-1)(-2/3)}}}

Solve that and get n=31, so -17 is the 31st term.

Edwin</pre>