Finding the Third Proportional to 1,218.38 and 2,588.63

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   1,218.38 : 2,588.63 = 2,588.63 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   1,218.38/2,588.63 = 2,588.63/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   1,218.38x = 2,588.63 × 2,588.63
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   1,218.38x = 6,700,979.39
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 6,700,979.39/1,218.38
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 5,499.93