Finding the Third Proportional to 42,254 and 88,578

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   42,254 : 88,578 = 88,578 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   42,254/88,578 = 88,578/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   42,254x = 88,578 × 88,578
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   42,254x = 7,846,062,084
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 7,846,062,084/42,254
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 185,688.03