Question

The figure below consists of a square and a right triangle. Find the missing length x.

Answer 1

15 cm

Explanation:

Since the square's side length is 8 cm, and one of its sides is the short leg of the triangle, the short leg of the triangle is 8 cm

Using the pythagorean theorem, solve for b (the missing side length x)

a² + b² = c²

8² + b² = 17²

64 + b² = 289

b² = 225

b = 15

So, the missing side length is 15 cm