A swimmer is capable of swimming 0.62m/s in still water. At what upstream angle must the swimmer aim, if she is to arrive at a point directly across the stream of a 37-m-wide river whose current is 0.50 m/s? How long will it take her?

The angle is 54 degrees but I don't know how long it will take her. I did 37/0.62=59, but 59 and 60 (rounded) are both wrong apparently.

Question

A swimmer is capable of swimming 0.62m/s in still water. At what upstream angle must the swimmer aim, if she is to arrive at a point directly across the stream of a 37-m-wide river whose current is 0.50 m/s? How long will it take her? 

The angle is 54 degrees but I don't know how long it will take her. I did 37/0.62=59, but 59 and 60 (rounded) are both wrong apparently.

radar · Answer

Was the angle of 54 degrees given with the problem?

anonymous · Answer

No, I had to find the angle but 54 degrees is the right answer for it.

radar · Answer

It seems you would need to find the distance the swimmer actually traveled.  This would be the hypotenuse of a right triangle with one leg  37 meters at an angle of 54 degrees.  I did this and come up with a time of 101.53 seconds.  Is it a multiple choice problem?

radar · Answer

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