1. Let's define the problem: We want to find how much closer the direct travel distance from Aurora to Clifton is compared to traveling from Aurora to Clifton via Burlington. 2. Suppose the distance from Aurora to Burlington is $d_{AB}$, from Burlington to Clifton is $d_{BC}$, and the direct distance from Aurora to Clifton is $d_{AC}$. 3. The total distance traveling through Burlington is $d_{AB} + d_{BC}$. 4. The difference in distance (how much closer the direct route is) is given by: $$\text{Difference} = (d_{AB} + d_{BC}) - d_{AC}$$ 5. To find the exact value, we need the distances $d_{AB}$, $d_{BC}$, and $d_{AC}$. If these are known, substitute them into the formula above. 6. The result will tell us how much shorter the direct route is compared to the route through Burlington. If you provide the distances, I can calculate the exact difference for you.