Finding the Third Proportional to 1,685.81 and 3,542.48

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   1,685.81 : 3,542.48 = 3,542.48 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   1,685.81/3,542.48 = 3,542.48/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   1,685.81x = 3,542.48 × 3,542.48
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   1,685.81x = 12,549,195.55
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 12,549,195.55/1,685.81
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 7,444.00