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.
Units used:
Fill out the table with the distance between each point on the Bermuda Triangle.
Miami, Florida to Bermuda: 973 miles
Miami, Florida to San Juan, Puerto Rico: 1339 miles
Bermuda to San Juan, Puerto Rico: 1139 miles
Based on the distances provided, the Bermuda Triangle does form a triangle. The sum of any two sides is greater than the third side, which is a property of triangles.
Apply the Triangle Inequality Theorem:
The Triangle Inequality Theorem states that the sum of the lengths of any two sides of a triangle must be greater than the length of the third side.
Let's verify this using the distances between the points of the Bermuda Triangle:
1. Miami, Florida to Bermuda: 973 miles
2. Miami, Florida to San Juan, Puerto Rico: 1339 miles
3. Bermuda to San Juan, Puerto Rico: 1139 miles
Applying the Triangle Inequality Theorem:
1. Miami to Bermuda + Miami to San Juan > Bermuda to San Juan
973 + 1339 > 1139
2312 > 1139 (True)
2. Miami to Bermuda + Bermuda to San Juan > Miami to San Juan
973 + 1139 > 1339
2112 > 1339 (True)
3. Miami to San Juan + Bermuda to San Juan > Miami to Bermuda
1339 + 1139 > 973
2478 > 973 (True)
Therefore, the Bermuda Triangle does satisfy the Triangle Inequality Theorem, confirming that it is indeed a triangle.