SCORE Mathematics
Introduction: In the movement West, the Pony Express was a major influence in communications during its short life. Many students may be intrigued by the story of the Pony Express, and the following activities will help them discover a little about the route, and some of the problems they encountered.Process: Go to the internet site "The Pony Express" and read the information provided by the state of Utah. This should provide enough background on the unique system of communication for you to do the following math problems.
However, you may wish to look in additional sources for more information, and one of the locations can be found in the alternate internet site.
- What was the maximum the rider was allowed to weigh? What was the max weight of the supplies he could carry? and the mail that he could carry? How much was the total weight that horses were allowed to carry?
- How many times did the riders switch horses from Missouri to California? (How many times did riders switch at a station on the journey?)
- If the average rider rode 75 miles, how many riders did the entire route need? What percentage of the entire route did each rider cover?
- If it cost $1 per half ounce to mail a letter, how much money could a rider make if he was carrying the maximum amount of mail on his trip?