Finding the Third Proportional to 78,872 and 172,016

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   78,872 : 172,016 = 172,016 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   78,872/172,016 = 172,016/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   78,872x = 172,016 × 172,016
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   78,872x = 29,589,504,256
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 29,589,504,256/78,872
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 375,158.54