Finding the Third Proportional to 31,900.50 and 74,509.88

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   31,900.50 : 74,509.88 = 74,509.88 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   31,900.50/74,509.88 = 74,509.88/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   31,900.50x = 74,509.88 × 74,509.88
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   31,900.50x = 5,551,721,472.52
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 5,551,721,472.52/31,900.50
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 174,032.43