Answer:
[tex]b=15[/tex]
Step-by-step explanation:
We have been given that in triangle ABC, m∠C = 90°, c = 17, and a = 8. We are asked to find the measure of side b.
Since the measure of angle C is 90 degree, so our given triangle is a right triangle, where side c is the hypotenuse of triangle.
We will use Pythagoras theorem to solve for side b as:
[tex]c^2=a^2+b^2[/tex]
[tex]17^2=8^2+b^2[/tex]
[tex]289=64+b^2[/tex]
[tex]64+b^2=289[/tex]
[tex]64-64+b^2=289-64[/tex]
[tex]b^2=225[/tex]
Now, we will take square root of both sides of our equation.
[tex]b=\pm\sqrt{225}[/tex]
[tex]b=\pm 15[/tex]
Since length cannot be negative, therefore, the length of side b is 15.
