Explanation:
in 3 hours the truck used 17 - 3 = 14 gallons.
that means it used
14 gallons / 3 hours = 14/3 gallons / hour
and that means it is using
14/3 × x gallons in x hours
y = 17 - (14/3 × x)
the gas left in the tank is decreasing by 14/3 gallons per hour.