Question:
In triangle $ABC$, $AB = 17$, $AC = 8$, and $BC = 15$.  Let $D$ be the foot of the altitude from $C$ to $AB$.  Find the area of triangle $ACD$.

Answer:
By Pythagoras, $\angle C = 90^\circ$.  Triangles $ACD$ and $ABC$ are similar, so \[CD = BC \cdot \frac{AC}{AB} = 15 \cdot \frac{8}{17} = \frac{120}{17},\]and \[AD = AC \cdot \frac{AC}{AB} = 8 \cdot \frac{8}{17} = \frac{64}{17}.\][asy]
unitsize(0.4 cm);

pair A, B, C, D;

A = (0,8);
B = (15,0);
C = (0,0);
D = (C + reflect(A,B)*(C))/2;

draw(A--B--C--cycle);
draw(C--D);

label("$A$", A, NW);
label("$B$", B, SE);
label("$C$", C, SW);
label("$D$", D, NE);
[/asy]

Therefore, the area of triangle $ACD$ is \[\frac{1}{2} \cdot AD \cdot CD = \frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{64}{17} \cdot \frac{120}{17} = \boxed{\frac{3840}{289}}.\]