Finding the Third Proportional to 40.50 and 86.63

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   40.50 : 86.63 = 86.63 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   40.50/86.63 = 86.63/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   40.50x = 86.63 × 86.63
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   40.50x = 7,503.89
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 7,503.89/40.50
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 185.28