Is the Bermuda Triangle really a triangle? The Bermuda Triangle features vertices in Miami, Florida; Bermuda; and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Find the distances between these points and remember to keep all measures in the same units. Using what you have learned about triangles, determine if the Bermuda Triangle is really a triangle.
Put the distances between each point on the Bermuda Triangle.
Miami, FL to Bermuda
Bermuda to San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico to Miami, FL
Apply the Triangle Inequality Theorem:
Is the Bermuda Triangle really a triangle? Explain.
To determine if the Bermuda Triangle is really a triangle, we need to calculate the distances between the three points and then apply the Triangle Inequality Theorem.
1. Miami, FL to Bermuda:
Using Google Maps, the distance between Miami, FL and Bermuda is approximately 1,078 miles.
2. Bermuda to San Juan, Puerto Rico:
Using Google Maps, the distance between Bermuda and San Juan, Puerto Rico is approximately 1,154 miles.
3. San Juan, Puerto Rico to Miami, FL:
Using Google Maps, the distance between San Juan, Puerto Rico and Miami, FL is approximately 1,056 miles.
Now, let's apply the Triangle Inequality Theorem, which states that the sum of the lengths of any two sides of a triangle must be greater than the length of the third side:
- Miami, FL to Bermuda (1,078 miles) + Bermuda to San Juan, Puerto Rico (1,154 miles) = 2,232 miles
- Bermuda to San Juan, Puerto Rico (1,154 miles) + San Juan, Puerto Rico to Miami, FL (1,056 miles) = 2,210 miles
- San Juan, Puerto Rico to Miami, FL (1,056 miles) + Miami, FL to Bermuda (1,078 miles) = 2,134 miles
Based on the calculations, the sum of the distances between any two points on the Bermuda Triangle is greater than the distance between the third point. Therefore, the Bermuda Triangle is indeed a triangle according to the Triangle Inequality Theorem.