Finding the Third Proportional to 8,686 and 17,978

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   8,686 : 17,978 = 17,978 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   8,686/17,978 = 17,978/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   8,686x = 17,978 × 17,978
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   8,686x = 323,208,484
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 323,208,484/8,686
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 37,210.28