\[b_{5} \cdot b_{17} = 36\]
\[b_{5} = b_{1} \cdot q^{4};\ \ \ \ b_{17} = b_{1} \cdot q^{16} \Longrightarrow\]
\[\Longrightarrow b_{1} \cdot q^{4} \cdot b_{1} \cdot q^{16} = 36\]
\[b_{1}^{2} \cdot q^{20} = 36\]
\[\left( b_{1} \cdot q^{10} \right)^{2} = 36\]
\[b_{1} \cdot q^{10} = 6 \Longrightarrow b_{11} = 6\ \ \ или\ \]
\[\ b_{1} \cdot q^{10} = - 6 \Longrightarrow b_{11} = - 6.\ \]
\[Ответ:6\ или\ ( - 6)\text{.\ }\]