Table:
Years Ended

July 27, 2019	July 28, 2018	July 29, 2017	Variance in Dollars	Variance in Percent

Research and development	$ 6,577	$ 6,332	$6,059	$245	4%

Percentage of revenue	12.7%	12.8%	12.6%

Sales and marketing	9,571	9,242	9,184	329	4%

Percentage of revenue	18.4%	18.7%	19.1%

General and administrative	1,827	2,144	1,993	(317)	(15)%

Percentage of revenue	3.5%	4.3%	4.2%

Total	$17,975	$17,718	$17,236	$257	1%

Percentage of revenue	34.6%	35.9%	35.9%

Answer the following question using both the table and the accompanying text, answer the question. You may include your reasoning, but be sure to finish with a JSON block exactly like {"answer": ["ANSWER"], "scale": "SCALE"} (leave "scale" empty if not applicable).

Text:
Research and Development (“R&D”), Sales and Marketing, and General and Administrative (“G&A”) Expenses
R&D, sales and marketing, and G&A expenses are summarized in the following table (in millions, except percentages):
R&D Expenses R&D expenses increased due to higher headcount-related expenses and, to a lesser extent, higher acquisition-related costs, higher contracted services and higher discretionary spending.
We continue to invest in R&D in order to bring a broad range of products to market in a timely fashion. If we believe that we are unable to enter a particular market in a timely manner with internally developed products, we may purchase or license technology from other businesses, or we may partner with or acquire businesses as an alternative to internal R&D.
Sales and Marketing Expenses Sales and marketing expenses increased due to higher headcount-related expenses, higher discretionary spending and, to a lesser extent, higher contracted services and higher acquisition-related costs, partially offset by lower share-based compensation expense.
G&A Expenses G&A expenses decreased due to a benefit from the $400 million litigation settlement with Arista Networks and lower contracted services, partially offset by higher discretionary spending and higher headcount-related expenses.
Effect of Foreign Currency In fiscal 2019, foreign currency fluctuations, net of hedging, decreased the combined R&D, sales and marketing, and G&A expenses by approximately $233 million, or 1.3%, compared with fiscal 2018. In fiscal 2018, foreign currency fluctuations, net of hedging, increased the combined R&D, sales and marketing, and G&A expenses by approximately $93 million, or 0.5%, compared with fiscal 2017.

Question: What was the percentage change in the total expenses between 2017 and 2018?

((17,718-17,236)/17,236) * 100, therefore {"answer": "2.8", "scale": "percent"}