Finding the Third Proportional to 20,542 and 31,685

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   20,542 : 31,685 = 31,685 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   20,542/31,685 = 31,685/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   20,542x = 31,685 × 31,685
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   20,542x = 1,003,939,225
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 1,003,939,225/20,542
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 48,872.52