Converting 116° Celsius to Fahrenheit

The Correct Answer and Explanation is:

Based on the image provided, the correct conversion is:

116° Celsius is equal to 240.8° Fahrenheit.

Explanation

Converting a temperature from the Celsius scale to the Fahrenheit scale is a common calculation that requires a specific mathematical formula. This is necessary because the two scales were developed using different reference points and degree increments. The United States predominantly uses Fahrenheit for everyday temperature measurements, while most of the world and the scientific community rely on Celsius.

The universally accepted formula to convert Celsius (°C) to Fahrenheit (°F) is:

°F = (°C × 9/5) + 32

This formula can be understood in two distinct steps, each addressing a fundamental difference between the scales.

First, the Celsius temperature is multiplied by 9/5 (or its decimal equivalent, 1.8). This step accounts for the difference in the unit size of the degrees. The temperature range between the freezing and boiling points of water is defined as 100 degrees in Celsius (from 0°C to 100°C). In Fahrenheit, this same range spans 180 degrees (from 32°F to 212°F). The ratio of these ranges, 180 divided by 100, simplifies to 9/5. Therefore, a change of one degree Celsius is equivalent to a change of 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit.

Second, 32 is added to the result. This step adjusts for the different starting points, or zero points, of the two scales. The Celsius scale designates the freezing point of water as 0°C. The Fahrenheit scale, however, sets this same physical point at 32°F. This constant offset must be added to align the scales properly.

To convert 116°C to Fahrenheit, we apply this formula:

  1. Multiply 116 by 9/5:
    116 × 1.8 = 208.8
  2. Add 32 to the result:
    208.8 + 32 = 240.8

Thus, a temperature of 116 degrees Celsius is precisely equivalent to 240.8 degrees Fahrenheit. This is an extremely high temperature, far above the boiling point of water, and would typically be found in industrial settings or certain cooking processes rather than in weather reports.

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