Finding the Third Proportional to 12,496 and 16,496

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   12,496 : 16,496 = 16,496 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   12,496/16,496 = 16,496/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   12,496x = 16,496 × 16,496
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   12,496x = 272,118,016
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 272,118,016/12,496
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 21,776.41