Finding the Third Proportional to 21,578 and 31,442

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   21,578 : 31,442 = 31,442 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   21,578/31,442 = 31,442/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   21,578x = 31,442 × 31,442
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   21,578x = 988,599,364
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 988,599,364/21,578
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 45,815.15