SOLUTION: A swimmer going downstream takes 1 hour, 20 minutes to travel a certain distance. It takes the swimmer 4 hours to make the return trip against the current. If the river flows at th

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Question 608526: A swimmer going downstream takes 1 hour, 20 minutes to travel a certain distance. It takes the swimmer 4 hours to make the return trip against the current. If the river flows at the rate of 1.5 mph, find the rate of the swimmer in still water and the distance traveled one way.
Answer by flame8855(424) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
let v be the swimmer velocity in still waters.
1.333 hr=distanceoneway/(v-1.5)
4hr=distance/(v+1.5)
in each equation, solve for distance, and since the distances are the same, then set those equations equal.
1.333(v-1.5)=4(V+1.5)
solve for v.