Record-Breaking Rides

Last year, Mark Beaumont cycled around the world in record-breaking time. (He took a plane over bodies of water.) The feat was faster than his previous record in 2008.

A. What math terms or words do you notice in the paragraph above?

B. Beaumont’s current record is about 79 days. His previous record was 2.45 times longer. What was his previous record, rounded to the nearest whole number?

Engineering students at the University of South Australia worked with the company Santos to build the world’s longest bicycle. It measures 41.42 meters. They first rode it in January 2015. It took 9 months of planning and building.

When did they begin work on the bicycle?

Pearson Cycles in London, England, is the world’s oldest bicycle shop. It’s been open since 1860.

Use friendly numbers and a number line to find the elapsed time in years between 1860 and this year.