Finding the Third Proportional to 2,886 and 3,142

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   2,886 : 3,142 = 3,142 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   2,886/3,142 = 3,142/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   2,886x = 3,142 × 3,142
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   2,886x = 9,872,164
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 9,872,164/2,886
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 3,420.71