Question

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

Answer 1

Yes, `8`, `15` and `17` could be the measures of the sides of a right angled triangle.

Explanation:

If the triangle with sides `8`, `15` and `17` is a right angled triangle, `17` the largest side must be hypotenuse.

According to Pythagoras theorem, in a right angled triangle, the square of hypotenuse is equal to the sum of squares of other two sides. Let us check it.

`17^2=289` and `8^2+15^2=64+225=289`

Therefore `17^2=8^2+15^2`.

Hence, `8`, `15` and `17` could be the measures of the sides of a right angled triangle.