How much wider is the Atlantic Ocean today as compared to the time when Christopher Columbus sailed? Assume that the Atlantic Ocean is getting wider at a rate of 3 centimeters per year (about 1 inch). Go ahead and round off the dates to the nearest century to make the calculation simpler.

considering that Columbus arrived in America in 1492 then is 15.81 m wider.

Explanation:

If Columbus arrived in America in 1492, and now we are in 2019, the difference is 527 years.

If we know that in one year the ocean is getting 3 cm wider, so by rule of three:

1 year = 3 cm

527 years = x X = (3 x 527) / 1 = 1581 cm

If we consider 1 m = 100 cm

x = 1581 cm

x = (1581 x 1) / 100 = 15.81 meters wider