Finding the Third Proportional to 21,538 and 31,597

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   21,538 : 31,597 = 31,597 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   21,538/31,597 = 31,597/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   21,538x = 31,597 × 31,597
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   21,538x = 998,370,409
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 998,370,409/21,538
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 46,353.91