Finding the Third Proportional to 73,702 and 158,978

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   73,702 : 158,978 = 158,978 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   73,702/158,978 = 158,978/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   73,702x = 158,978 × 158,978
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   73,702x = 25,274,004,484
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 25,274,004,484/73,702
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 342,921.56