The mens world record for swimming 1500.0 m in a long course pool is 14 min 34.65 s. at this rate, how many seconds would it take to swim 0.550 miles (1 mile=1609 m)

14 min = 14 * 60 = 840 s

14 min 34.56 s = 840 + 34.56 = 874.56 s

1 mile = 1609 m

0.35mile = 0.35 * 1609 = 563.15 m

It takes 874.56 s → 1500 m

It takes x s → 563.15 m

You calculate the cross-multiply:

x * 1500 = 874.56 * 563.15

x = (874.56 * 563.15) / 1500

x = 492508.464 / 1500

x = 328.338976 s → that is the time to swim 0.35 mile

328.338976 = (5 * 60) + 28.338976

328.338976 s = 5 min + 28.338976 s