Question

The first, second and the fourth terms of a proportion are $9,8\text{and}24$, respectively. Find its third term.​

Answer 1

Let the third term be $x$.

Since the numbers $9,8,x\text{and}24$ are in proportion

$\Rightarrow$ $9:8=x:24$

$\Rightarrow$ $9\times 24=x\times 8$

($\because$ $\text{Product of extremes = Product of means}$)


$\Rightarrow$ $x=\frac{9\times 24}{8}=\frac{9\times 8\times 3}{8}=9\times 3=27$

$\therefore$ $x=27$

Hence, the second term of the proportion is $27$.