Finding the Third Proportional to 72,322 and 157,496

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   72,322 : 157,496 = 157,496 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   72,322/157,496 = 157,496/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   72,322x = 157,496 × 157,496
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   72,322x = 24,804,990,016
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 24,804,990,016/72,322
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 342,979.87