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?

A

460

B

480

C

520

D

540

Let the number of days lasted by the first voyage is x and that for the second voyage is y.

It is given that the first voyage lasted 43 days longer than the second voyage.

Therefore,

x - y = 43 - - - (1)

It is also given that the two voyages combined lasted a total of 1,003 days. Therefore,

x + y = 1003 - - - (2)

(1) + (2) gives

2x = 1046

Divide both sides by 2.

x = 523

x + y = 1003

523 + y = 1003

y = 1003 - 523

= 480

Hence, the second voyage lasted 480 days.