Finding the Third Proportional to 33,642 and 72,857.81

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   33,642 : 72,857.81 = 72,857.81 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   33,642/72,857.81 = 72,857.81/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   33,642x = 72,857.81 × 72,857.81
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   33,642x = 5,308,260,842.29
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 5,308,260,842.29/33,642
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 157,786.72