Answer:
x=8
Area= 60
Step-by-step explanation:
1. Use the Pythagorean Theorem: a^2+b^2=c^2.
c is always the longest side of the triangle, or the hypotenuse. The other two variables can be interchanged.
Let's plug the numbers into the equation now.
a^2+15^2=17^2
2. Square the two numbers you are given and isolate a.
15^2 (or 15 x 15) = 225
17^2 (or 17 x 17) = 289
So, the equation becomes: a^2 + 225 = 289
To get a by itself, subtract 225 from both sides and take the square root of the result
289-225= 64
√64 = 8
a= 8. x=8
3. Now that you have x, you can calculate the area if the triangle. The area formula for triangles is 1/2 base x height
Base is 15 and height is 8
15 x 8 = 120
120 x .5 = 60
