Between 1497 and 1500, Amerigo Vespucci embarked on two voyages to the New  World. According to Vespucci’s letters, the first voyage lasted 43 days longer than  the second voyage, and the two voyages combined lasted a total of 1,003 days. How  many days did the second voyage last?

The correct answer is: 480

Let the two voyages be x and
x = first voyages
y = second voyages
the first voyages lasted 43 days then the second
x + 43 = y
x – y = 43
the last two voyages combined, x + y = 1003
x – y = 43 ------------ 1
x + y = 1003----------2
by elimination method, subtract equation 2 and equation 1
(x – x) + (y – y) = 43 – 100.
-2y = -960
y = 
y = 480