Suppose a salesperson wishes to travel to each city in the map below exactly once, starting and ending in New York, and using only the roads shown. The numbers on the roads indicate distances (in miles) between cities. Find the shortest route that the salesperson could use.
Work in small groups to come up with your route and the justification for why you chose the route you did. Look for a method that will work every time you try a problem like this. Are you convinced that your route is the shortest? Why?
A spokesperson from your groups will be asked to share your results with the rest of the class. Use the overhead transparency provided to trace your route and give supporting evidence of why you think your route is shortest. Use the transparency as a visual aid for your presentation.