In this issue of Math in the News we look at Columbus' voyages. We make some calculations based on map data. For more math resources go to www.media4math.com.

1. Math in the News
Christopher Columbus requesting
funds for his voyage from Queen
Isabella and King Ferdinand of
Spain
Christopher Columbus is known
for discovering America, but that
wasn’t his original plan. He was
looking for sugar, spices, and
other riches east of Japan. He
believed that he could reach
those places by traveling west.
In this issue of Math in the
News, we discover the routes
Christopher Columbus traveled
during his four famous voyages.
We use map data to draw some
conclusions.

2. Math in the News
This is a map of
Columbus‘ first
voyage. It took him
40 days to reach San
Salvador, an island
in the Bahamas. If
he traveled 150
miles a day, how
many miles in total
did he travel?

3. Math in the News
Columbus made
three more voyages
to the New World.
Here is a map of all
four voyages.
Can you calculate
the number of miles
he traveled during
voyages 2 through
4?

4. Math in the News
The map on the right is Columbus’ third
voyage. This trip took longer because
Columbus was waylaid in the Doldrums, an
area with little wind off the coast of Africa.
What other ways was the third voyage
different from the other three?

5. Math in the News
The bottom map shows
Columbus’ final
voyage, which he
completed in 21 days.
If this trip was about
3,500 miles, how
many miles did he
travel each day?
Columbus was
considered a master
of the seas. Can you
see why?

6. Math in the News
The bottom map shows
Columbus’ final
voyage, which he
completed in 21 days.
If this trip was about
3,500 miles, how
many miles did he
travel each day?
Columbus was
considered a master
of the seas. Can you
see why?