The answer to this problem would be -8.
__ + (-6) + (-3) = -17
Since the parentheses are only there to differentiate the pluses from the negative signs, we can add together -6 and -3, which equals -9.
Now we have __ + (-9) = -17
We want to get the blank on its own side. To do this, you do the opposite of whatever's on the other side. Since it's a negative nine, you have to add a positive nine to the negative seventeen.
So, we have ____= -17 + 9
-17 + 9 = -8
Hope this helped, and feel free to ask more questions!! (:
