17. Divide a square with a side length of a positive integer into ten smaller squares, such that the side length of each smaller square is a positive integer, and at least eight of them have an area of 1. Then the minimum possible value of the side length of the original square is ( ).
(A) 3
(B) 4
(C) 5
(D) 6
(E) 7
17. B.

If the side length is 3, and the area is 9, it is impossible to divide it into ten smaller squares with integer side lengths; if the side length is 4, then it is possible (as shown in Figure 5).