Finding the Third Proportional to 42,341 and 86,860

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   42,341 : 86,860 = 86,860 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   42,341/86,860 = 86,860/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   42,341x = 86,860 × 86,860
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   42,341x = 7,544,659,600
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 7,544,659,600/42,341
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 178,188.04