One leg of a right triangle measures 8inches and the hypotenuse 17 inches determine the length if the other leg

15 inches.
a^2 + b^2 = c^2    so        c^2 - a^2 = b^2

(17)^2 - (8)^2 = b^2

289 - 64 = b^2

225 = b^2   then you take the square root on both sides

15 = b