The given values
.
Where
is the first term and
is the common difference.
The sum of an arithmetic series
.
(Substitute
)
(Add: 17 + 197 = 214)
Apply multiplication property of equality: a = b then
.
(Multiply each side by 2)
(Cancel common terms)
(Multiply:
)
Apply division property of equality: a = b then
.
(Divide each side by 214)
(Cancel common terms)
(Divide:
)
Apply nth term of the arithmetic sequence formula:
.
(Substitute
)
(Subtract:
)
Apply subtraction property of equality: a = b then
.
(Subtract 17 from each side)
(Apply additive inverse property:
)
(Apply additive identity property:
)
(Subtract:
)
Apply division property of equality: a = b then
.
(Divide each side by 20)
(Cancel common terms)
d = 9 (Divide:
)
The 1st term is
, 2nd term is 
3rd term is 
The first three terms of the arithmetic series is 17, 26, and 35.