How do you use the Pythagorean Theorem to determine if the following three numbers could represent the measures of the sides of a right triangle: 8,15,17?

1 Answer
May 31, 2016

8,15,17 represent the measures of the sides of a right triangle.

Explanation:

To find whether the three numbers 8,15,17 could represent the measures of the sides of a right triangle or not using Pythagoras theorem, one need to check whether the square of the largest side (here 17), is equal to sum of the squares of other two or not.

Here, 17^2=17xx17=289

and 8^2+5^2=8xx8+15xx15=64+225=289

As the two are equal, 8,15,17 represent the measures of the sides of a right triangle.