Triangulate

/traɪˈæŋɡjəleɪt/ verb

Definition

To find the exact location of something by measuring distances from at least two known points, or to use three sources of information to verify something.

Etymology

From Latin 'triangulum' (tri- 'three' + angulum 'angle'). Surveyors developed this mathematical method for mapmaking, and the term later extended to mean any process of verification using multiple points.

Kelly Says

GPS uses triangulation from multiple satellites, but ancient Greek mathematicians figured this out 2,000 years ago without any technology—just geometry and angles—to measure distances they couldn't reach!

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