Finding the Third Proportional to 2,596 and 5,588

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   2,596 : 5,588 = 5,588 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   2,596/5,588 = 5,588/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   2,596x = 5,588 × 5,588
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   2,596x = 31,225,744
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 31,225,744/2,596
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 12,028.41