Finding the Third Proportional to 20,540 and 42,488

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   20,540 : 42,488 = 42,488 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   20,540/42,488 = 42,488/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   20,540x = 42,488 × 42,488
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   20,540x = 1,805,230,144
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 1,805,230,144/20,540
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 87,888.52