Finding the Third Proportional to 31,820 and 73,974

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   31,820 : 73,974 = 73,974 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   31,820/73,974 = 73,974/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   31,820x = 73,974 × 73,974
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   31,820x = 5,472,152,676
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 5,472,152,676/31,820
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 171,972.11