Question 963769
>>the sum of the arithmetic sequence is 17
`
>>the d is 14 
<pre>
{{{S[n]=expr(n/2)(2a[1]+(n-1)^""d)}}}
{{{17=expr(n/2)(2a[1]+(n-1)^""(14))}}}
Multiply both sides by 2:
{{{34=n(2a[1]+14(n-1)^"")}}}
{{{34=n(2a[1]+14n-14)}}}
</pre>
>>the second term is 3,
<pre>
{{{a[n]=a[1]+(n-1)d}}}
{{{3=a[1]+(2-1)(14)}}}
{{{3=a[1]+(1)(14)}}}
{{{3=a[1]+14}}}
{{{-11=a[1]}}}

That's the answer, but the problem is botched because
when you substitute a<sub>1</sub> = -11 into

{{{34=n(2a[1]+14n-14)}}}

and solve for n you get:

{{{n = (9 +- 10sqrt(2))/7}}}

So you might tell your teacher that the problem is botched.
There is no such arithmetic sequence because n can only
be a positive integer.

Edwin</pre>