Finding the Third Proportional to 31,508 and 42,042

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   31,508 : 42,042 = 42,042 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   31,508/42,042 = 42,042/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   31,508x = 42,042 × 42,042
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   31,508x = 1,767,529,764
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 1,767,529,764/31,508
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 56,097.81