Finding the Third Proportional to 21,557 and 31,498

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   21,557 : 31,498 = 31,498 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   21,557/31,498 = 31,498/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   21,557x = 31,498 × 31,498
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   21,557x = 992,124,004
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 992,124,004/21,557
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 46,023.29