Is the Bermuda Triangle really a triangle? The Bermuda Triangle features vertices in Miami, Florida; Bermuda; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Miami, FL to Bermuda is 1035 miles
Bermuda to San Juan, Puerto Rico is 954 miles
San Juan, Puerto Rico to Miami, FL is 1033
Apply the Triangle Inequality Theorem:
Is the Bermuda Triangle really a triangle? Explain.
No, the Bermuda Triangle is not really a triangle. According to the Triangle Inequality Theorem, for any triangle with sides of lengths a, b, and c, the sum of the lengths of any two sides must be greater than the length of the remaining side.
In the case of the Bermuda Triangle, we can compare the lengths of its sides:
- Miami, FL to Bermuda is 1035 miles
- Bermuda to San Juan, Puerto Rico is 954 miles
- San Juan, Puerto Rico to Miami, FL is 1033 miles
If we apply the Triangle Inequality Theorem, we can see that the sum of the lengths of the first two sides (1035 miles + 954 miles = 1989 miles) is greater than the length of the remaining side (1033 miles). However, the sum of the lengths of the last two sides (1033 miles + 954 miles = 1987 miles) is less than the length of the remaining side (1035 miles).
Since the Triangle Inequality Theorem is not satisfied, the Bermuda Triangle does not form a triangle.