Answer:
The shortest altitude = 8 cm
Step-by-step explanation:
Where we have the sides given by
15 cm, 17 cm, 8 cm
From cosine rule, we have;
a² = b² + c² - 2×b×c×cos(A)
We have
For the side 15 cm,
15² = 17² + 8² - 2×17×8 cos A
-388 = -612×cos×A
A = 61.93°
17² = 15² + 8² - 2×15×8 ×cos B
0 = -240·cos B
B = 90°
Therefore, 17 is the hypotenuse side and 15 and 8 are the legs, either of which can be the height which gives the shortest altitude as 8 cm
