Solve Swimmer's Speed to Drift 1 Mile: 4 mi/h

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SUMMARY

The swimmer's speed, denoted as vs, must be 4 mi/h to ensure that he drifts only 1 mile downstream while crossing a river that is 2 miles wide. The river's velocity is defined by the equation vr = 3(1-x^2). The calculations involve using the tangent function to relate the swimmer's speed to the river's velocity, leading to the integral equation that ultimately confirms the swimmer's speed. This conclusion is derived from the integration of the velocity equations and applying initial and final conditions.

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JJRKnights
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I found an answer, but I am skeptical.

What must the swimmer's speed, vs, be in order that he drifts only 1 mile downstream as he crosses the river?

The width of the river = 2 miles
The velocity of the river, vr = 3(1-x^2)

Relevant equations:

tanα=vr/vs
dy/dx = tanα
vr = v0(1-x^2/a^2)

Image:
9K15G.png



So I started off with:

tanα=vr/vs
plugged in dy/dx for tanα, and vr = 3(1-x^2)

dy/dx = (3/vs)(1-x^2)
I assumed that vs was a constant.
∫dy/dx = (3/vs)∫(1-x^2)dx

y = (3/vs)(x - 1/3 x^3) + C

plugged in initial values y(-1) = 0,

0 = (3/vs)((-1) - 1/3(-1)^3) + C
((-1) - 1/3(-1)^3) = -2/3
0 = (3/vs)(-2/3) + C
C = 2/vs

now I have the equation all with 1 unknown:

y = (3/vs)(x - 1/3 x^3) + 2/vs

here is the part where I just improvised not really knowing what to do...
I figured that if I used the initial values, I wouldn't get my vs, so I used the final values:
y(1)=1

1 = (3/vs)(1 - 1/3) + 2/vs
and for this one I get that:
vs = 4 mi/h
 
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Looks OK to me. The ##a## in the picture is evidently 1.
 

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