If it’s 72 degrees Fahrenheit in your house, what is the temperature in degrees Celsius?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
To convert a temperature from Fahrenheit (°F) to Celsius (°C), we can use the following formula:
[
C = \frac{5}{9} \times (F – 32)
]
Where:
- (C) is the temperature in degrees Celsius,
- (F) is the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.
Given that the temperature in your house is 72°F, we substitute this value into the formula:
[
C = \frac{5}{9} \times (72 – 32)
]
First, subtract 32 from 72:
[
72 – 32 = 40
]
Next, multiply 40 by ( \frac{5}{9} ):
[
C = \frac{5}{9} \times 40 = \frac{200}{9} \approx 22.22^\circ C
]
Thus, the temperature in your house is approximately 22.22°C.
Explanation:
The conversion between Fahrenheit and Celsius comes from the way the two scales are structured. The Fahrenheit scale was developed by Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit in 1724, where he set the freezing point of water at 32°F and the boiling point at 212°F, making the total range 180 degrees between these two points. On the other hand, the Celsius scale, created by Anders Celsius in 1742, is based on the freezing point of water at 0°C and the boiling point at 100°C, resulting in a 100-degree range between these two points.
When converting between the two, the main difference lies in the intervals: one Fahrenheit degree is smaller than one Celsius degree. This is why the formula includes the factor ( \frac{5}{9} ). In simple terms, the Fahrenheit scale has more graduations within the same temperature range compared to Celsius, requiring a scaling factor when converting. This formula allows you to adjust for the difference in scale to convert temperatures accurately.