### Instruction: In the arithmetic sequence $17, a, b, c, 41$, what is the value of $b$?### Response: I know that an arithmetic sequence is one where each term is obtained by adding a constant amount to the previous term.
So, if I let that constant amount be $d$, then I can write $a = 17 + d$, $b = a + d = 17 + 2d$, $c = b + d = 17 + 3d$, and $41 = c + d = 17 + 4d$.
I can use the last equation to solve for $d$. Subtracting $17$ from both sides, I get $24 = 4d$, and dividing both sides by $4$, I get $d = 6$.