The Pythagorean theorem says that:
(leg)2 + (other leg)2 = (hypotenuse)2
One leg is 15.
The other leg is the missing side.
The hypotenuse is 17.
All you have to do is plug in the right numbers into the right slots.
Can you get that far with it?
Use the Pythagorean theorem:
a2+b2=c2
a2+152=172
a2+225=289
a2=289-225
a2=74
a=sqrt(74)