Answer:
15 ft
Step-by-step explanation:
1. Draw a triangle with a right angle.
2. Label all sides: A being the straight line which is standing vertically, B which is the base or the line which lays horizontally, and C will be the longest line on the triangle.
3. Make the C to be 17 ft.
4. Mark A as 8 ft.
5. Now use the Pythagorean Theorem: [tex]a^{2}+b^{2}=c^{2}[/tex]
[tex]8^{2} +b^{2} =17^{2}[/tex]
6. Solve the equation:
[tex]8^{2}+b^{2}=17^{2}\\64+b^{2}=289\\b^{2}=225\\\sqrt{b^{2}}=\sqrt{225}\\b=15[/tex]
