Convert 59°F to Celsius, using the formula C = (F – 32). 1°C 15°C 49°C 51°C
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
To convert 59°F to Celsius using the formula ( C = \frac{5}{9}(F – 32) ), we start by substituting the value of ( F ) (which is 59°F) into the formula. Here’s how it works step-by-step:
- Substitute 59°F into the formula:
[
C = \frac{5}{9}(59 – 32)
] - Perform the subtraction inside the parentheses:
[
59 – 32 = 27
]
So now, the equation looks like this:
[
C = \frac{5}{9}(27)
] - Multiply by (\frac{5}{9}):
To calculate this, we first multiply:
[
C = \frac{5 \times 27}{9} = \frac{135}{9} = 15
]
Thus, the Celsius equivalent of 59°F is 15°C.
Explanation of the Conversion Process
Temperature conversion between Fahrenheit and Celsius is based on two fixed points: the freezing point of water (32°F, 0°C) and the boiling point of water (212°F, 100°C). The formula ( C = \frac{5}{9}(F – 32) ) is derived from the linear relationship between these two scales.
- The subtraction of 32 adjusts for the offset between the two scales. While both scales measure temperature, they have different starting points and intervals. For example, 0°C (the freezing point of water) is equivalent to 32°F.
- The factor of (\frac{5}{9}) is used to account for the different degrees of temperature change in each scale. A change of 1°C corresponds to a change of 1.8°F, so (\frac{1}{1.8}) simplifies to (\frac{5}{9}).
In practical terms, this means that when we convert a temperature from Fahrenheit to Celsius, we first remove the offset by subtracting 32, then scale the result to match the size of degrees on the Celsius scale.
Therefore, converting 59°F to Celsius gives us a result of 15°C, which can help individuals understand temperatures in contexts where Celsius is the standard measurement, such as in many countries around the world.