Question 1193084
Leo swims at 2 miles per hour in still water.
 After he swims down a river a quarter of a mile, returning takes three times as long as swimming downstream.
 Find the rate of the current. 
:
let c = the rate of the current
then
(2+c) = his speed down stream
and
(2-c) = his speed upstream
:
write the dist as .25 mi
Write a time equation, time = dist/speed
{{{.25/(2-c)}}} = {{{3(.25/(2+c))}}}
{{{.25/(2-c)}}} = {{{(.75/(2+c))}}}
cross multiply
.25(2+c) = .75(2-c)
.5 + .25c = 1.5 - .75c
.25c + .75c = 1.5 - .5
1c = 1
c = 1 mph is the rate of the current
:
:
Check, find the actual time each way in minutes
.25/1 = .25*60 = 15 min upstream
.25/3 = .0833*60 = 5 min downstream