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.
To determine if the Bermuda Triangle is really a triangle, we need to calculate the distance between the three vertices: Miami, Florida; Bermuda; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- Miami, Florida to Bermuda:
Using the coordinates for Miami, Florida (25.7617° N, 80.1918° W) and Bermuda (32.3078° N, 64.7505° W), we can calculate the distance using the haversine formula:
d = 2*6371*asin(sqrt(sin²((32.3078-25.7617)/2) + cos(25.7617)*cos(32.3078)*sin²((64.7505-(-80.1918))/2))
d = 1528.7 km
- Miami, Florida to San Juan, Puerto Rico:
Using the coordinates for Miami, Florida and San Juan, Puerto Rico (18.4655° N, 66.1057° W), we can calculate the distance:
d = 2*6371*asin(sqrt(sin²((18.4655-25.7617)/2) + cos(25.7617)*cos(18.4655)*sin²((-66.1057-(-80.1918))/2))
d = 1982.1 km
- Bermuda to San Juan, Puerto Rico:
Using the coordinates for Bermuda and San Juan, Puerto Rico, we can calculate the distance:
d = 2*6371*asin(sqrt(sin²((18.4655-32.3078)/2) + cos(32.3078)*cos(18.4655)*sin²((-66.1057-64.7505)/2))
d = 1654.4 km
Based on the distances calculated, the sum of any two sides of the Bermuda Triangle is greater than the remaining side. Therefore, the Bermuda Triangle is indeed a triangle.