Answer
$x = 17$
Work Step by Step
We can find the third side, $x$, by using the Pythagorean theorem, which states that $a^2 + b^2 = c^2$, where $a$ and $b$ are the legs of the right triangle and $c$ is the hypotenuse.
Let's plug in what we know into the Pythagorean theorem:
$8^2 + 15^2 = x^2$
Evaluate the exponents:
$64 + 225 = x^2$
Add to simplify:
$289 = x^2$
Take the positive square root to solve for $x$:
$x = 17$
