To find side $ a $ use Pythagorean Theorem:
$$ a^2 + b^2 = d^2 $$After substituting $b = 24\, \text{cm}$ and $d = 25\, \text{cm}$ we have:
$$ a ^ {\,2} + \left( 24\, \text{cm} \right)^{2} = \left( 25\, \text{cm} \right)^{2} $$ $$ a ^ {\,2} = \left( 25\, \text{cm} \right)^{2} - \left( 24\, \text{cm} \right)^{2} $$ $$ a ^ {\,2} = 625\, \text{cm}^2 - 576\, \text{cm}^2 $$ $$ a ^ {\,2} = 49\, \text{cm}^2 $$ $$ a = \sqrt{ 49\, \text{cm}^2 } $$$$ a = 7\, \text{cm} $$