Finding the Third Proportional to 20,435 and 31,578

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   20,435 : 31,578 = 31,578 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   20,435/31,578 = 31,578/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   20,435x = 31,578 × 31,578
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   20,435x = 997,170,084
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 997,170,084/20,435
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 48,797.17