Convert 57°F to degrees Celsius. If necessary, round your answer to the nearest tenth of a degree. Here are the formulas.
CEF – 32) F = C + 32
57°F = [°C x 5]
The correct answer and explanation is :
To convert Fahrenheit to Celsius, we use the following formula:
$$
C = \frac{(F – 32)}{1.8}
$$
Where:
- $F$ is the temperature in Fahrenheit,
- $C$ is the temperature in Celsius.
Given that the temperature in Fahrenheit is 57°F, we substitute 57 into the formula:
$$
C = \frac{(57 – 32)}{1.8}
$$
$$
C = \frac{25}{1.8}
$$
$$
C = 13.9
$$
So, 57°F is approximately 13.9°C (rounded to the nearest tenth).
Explanation:
To understand how this works, it’s important to know why we use this formula. The relationship between Fahrenheit and Celsius is linear. That means as the temperature increases or decreases, the change in one scale corresponds to a fixed change in the other scale. The Fahrenheit scale uses a different zero point and scale than the Celsius scale.
- Fahrenheit Scale: It sets 32°F as the freezing point of water and 212°F as the boiling point. There are 180 increments between the freezing and boiling points.
- Celsius Scale: It sets 0°C as the freezing point and 100°C as the boiling point of water, dividing the range into 100 increments.
The formula $C = \frac{(F – 32)}{1.8}$ adjusts for these differences:
- Subtract 32 from the Fahrenheit value because the freezing points of water are different on the two scales.
- Then, divide by 1.8 to account for the fact that each Celsius degree is larger than a Fahrenheit degree (the Celsius scale is “spaced” differently than the Fahrenheit scale).
By applying the formula, you can convert any Fahrenheit temperature into its equivalent Celsius value. In this case, 57°F is approximately 13.9°C. This conversion is crucial in science and daily life when switching between temperature scales used in different countries or for specific scientific measurements.