Hello there,
- I just looked into the question and you are absolutely right whatever you inferred.
- I think the question might be wrong.
- The value of c should be greater than b.
- I guess it will like this:
- [tex]b = 16 \:  \:  \: c = 17 \frac{1}{3} [/tex]
- The values should be like this.
- I am solving the equation by this:
- [tex] {a}^{2}  =  {c}^{2}  -  {b}^{2}  \\  =  >  {a}^{2}  =  {(17 \frac{1}{3}) }^{2}  -  {(16)}^{2}  \\  = >   {a}^{2}  =  {( \frac{52}{3} )}^{2}  -  {(16)}^{2}  \\  =  >  {a}^{2}  = ( \frac{52}{3}  - 16)( \frac{52}{3}  + 16) \\  = >   {a}^{2}  = ( \frac{52 - 48}{3} )( \frac{52 + 48}{3} ) \\  =  >  {a}^{2}  =  \frac{4}{3}  \times  \frac{100}{3}  \\  =  >  {a}^{2}  =  \frac{400}{9}  \\  =  > a =  \sqrt{ \frac{400}{9} }  \\  =  > a =  \frac{20}{3}  \\  =  > a = 6 \frac{2}{3} [/tex]
- So, the value of a is 
[tex]a = 6 \frac{2}{3} [/tex]
Hope you could get an idea from it.
Doubt clarification - use comment section.