Final answer:
The pre-image of 17 under the function f(x) = 2x + 1 is 8.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pre-image of 17 under the function f(x) = 2x + 1 can be found by solving the equation 2x + 1 = 17 for x. Subtracting 1 from both sides of the equation gives 2x = 16. Dividing both sides by 2 gives x = 8. Therefore, the pre-image of 17 is 8. So, the correct option is b) 8.