Finding the Third Proportional to 31,696 and 68,036

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   31,696 : 68,036 = 68,036 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   31,696/68,036 = 68,036/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   31,696x = 68,036 × 68,036
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   31,696x = 4,628,897,296
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 4,628,897,296/31,696
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 146,040.42