1. ## Kelvin

Hi, I am new to this forum. I'm trying to help my daughter with a chemistry problem and need some help. I believe it falls into the algebra catagory so I hope I can get help here. I have been able to help her convert from celcius to F and from F to celcius so far, but this problem does not work out for me....

C= 5/9(-80.0-32)

the correct answer is shown as 62.2 in the example but I can't figure out how to get there??

2. Originally Posted by binmygarden
Hi, I am new to this forum. I'm trying to help my daughter with a chemistry problem and need some help. I believe it falls into the algebra catagory so I hope I can get help here. I have been able to help her convert from celcius to F and from F to celcius so far, but this problem does not work out for me....

C= 5/9(-80.0-32)

the correct answer is shown as 62.2 in the example but I can't figure out how to get there??
Hi and welcome to the forum!

For converting -80.0 degrees F to degrees C, I get -62.2, not 62.2.

Also, why did you make the thread title "Kelvin" when there is no mention of Kelvin in the problem?

3. Oh sorry...this is just one step in solving for Kelvin....I can't get past this step though. I do not have a strong background in Chemistry.

You said you get -62.2, can you show how you got that answer. Also, what about the -32.

4. Originally Posted by binmygarden
Oh sorry...this is just one step in solving for Kelvin....I can't get past this step though. I do not have a strong background in Chemistry.

You said you get -62.2, can you show how you got that answer. Also, what about the -32.
Using a calculator? -80-32 = -112. Multiply that by 5/9 and you get -62.2222... which you then round to -62.2.

5. using a simple calculator...don't have a scientific one yet. I made a mistake...the answer is negative in the book. I did not convert to decimal before multiplying. I see how to get the answer now. Still, when I converted C to F as well as F to C in earlier problems, I did solve using 5/9 and the other number over 1 and I was able to get the correct answer. Why do I get the wrong answer when I tried to solve using 5/9 x -112/1 ??

6. Originally Posted by binmygarden
using a simple calculator...don't have a scientific one yet. I made a mistake...the answer is negative in the book. I did not convert to decimal before multiplying. I see how to get the answer now. Still, when I converted C to F as well as F to C in earlier problems, I did solve using 5/9 and the other number over 1 and I was able to get the correct answer. Why do I get the wrong answer when I tried to solve using 5/9 x -112/1 ??
$\frac{5}{9 \times -112}$