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
Shwetank Mauria
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.

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