Answer: b = 15, the perimeter is 40, and the area is 60.
Step-by-step explanation: First we need to find b. Using the Pythagorean Theorem, we know what 8^2 + b^2 = 17^2. This is the same as 64 + b^2 = 289. Subtract 64 from each side and we get b^2 = 225, which happens to be 15^2, so b=15. Now that we have b, we can add 8 + 15 + 17 to get the perimeter, 40. The area comes from 1/2*base*height, so 1/2 * 8 * 15. The area of the triangle is 60.
