Answer:
45 cm
Explanation:
Let x represent the length of the longer leg. Then the hypotenuse is x+8 and the shorter leg is x-17. The Pythagorean theorem gives the relation between these values as ...
(x +8)^2 = x^2 +(x -17)^2
x^2 +16x +64 = 2x^2 -34x +289 . . . . eliminate parentheses
0 = x^2 -50x +225 . . . . . put in standard form
0 = (x -45)(x -5) . . . . . . . . factor
Solutions to this equation are x=5 and x=45. The value of x must be greater than 17, so the useful solution is x=45.
The length of the longer leg of the triangle is 45 cm.