In a right triangle, the length of the hypotenuse is 17 cm. If the length of one of its sides is 15 cm, then the area of the triangle is:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → 60 cm2
In a right triangle the two sides that meet at the right angle serve as base and height, and the third side follows from Pythagoras’ theorem: hypotenuse2 = base2 + height2.
Third side, the height on the base of 15 cm: \(\sqrt{17^2-15^2}=\sqrt{289-225}=\sqrt{64}=8\,\mathrm{cm}\)
Area, half the base times the height: \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}\times15\times8=60\,\mathrm{cm^2}\)
