Question 80733
Use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve.  This will be a right triangle:
{{{(a^2+b^2)}}}={{{(c^2)}}}
Let the slope = the hypotenuse = c
Let one side = a=8
Let the other side =b =15
Plug-in the values and solve for the c-term
Check you answer by plugging the value of "c" back into the orignial equation and solve.
.
{{{(a^2+b^2)}}}={{{(c^2)}}}
{{{(8^2+15^2)}}}={{{(c^2)}}}
{{{(64+225)}}}={{{(c^2)}}}
{{{(289)}}}={{{(c^2)}}}
{{{(sqrt(289))}}}={{{(sqrt(c^2))}}}
17=c
.
Check by plugging {{{(sqrt(17))}}} into the original equation and solve.
{{{(a^2+b^2)}}}={{{(c^2)}}}
{{{(289)}}}={{{(17^2)}}}
289=289 [checks out]