Question

How do you solve this?​

Answer 1

Answer: x = 8

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Work Shown:

a = 15 is the length of one leg

b = x is the unknown other leg

c = 17 is the hypotenuse

Use the pythagorean theorem to solve for x

a^2 + b^2 = c^2

(15)^2 + x^2 = (17)^2

225 + x^2 = 289

x^2 = 289 - 225

x^2 = 64

x = sqrt(64)

x = 8

Answer 2

x = 8 in

Explanation:

Since this is a right triangle, we can use the Pythagorean theorem.

a^2 +b^2 = c^2 where a and b are the legs and c is the hypotenuse

15^2 +x^2 = 17^2

225 + x^2 = 289

Subtract 225 from each side

225-225 + x^2 = 289-225

x^2 = 64

Take the square root of each side

sqrt(x^2) = sqrt(64)

x = 8