Thread: Changing Farenhiet into a celsius

I'm not understanding the whole degrees celsius= 5/9 ( degrees celsius - 32).

Is there any other way that this can be explained? A more simpler way?

Say I need to change 77 degress farenhiet. How would I go about changing that to degrees celsius?

Originally Posted by ladyk

I'm not understanding the whole degrees celsius= 5/9 ( degrees celsius - 32).

Is there any other way that this can be explained? A more simpler way?

Say I need to change 77 degress farenhiet. How would I go about changing that to degrees celsius?

• 
  
• Take the temperature in Fahrenheit subtract 32.
• Divide by 1.8.
• The result is degrees Celsius.
  

Establish the Facts.

Celsius

Freezing = 0º
Boiling = 100º

Farenheit

Freezing = 32º
Boiling = 212º

Establish the Model. I believe it to be linear

ºC = B*(ºF - A)

Apply the Facts

0ºC = B*(32ºF - A)
100ºC = B*(212ºF - A)

Solve for the Model Parameters

I will leave this to the interested student. That would be you.

Hint: From the first equation, the value of A should be relatively obvious.

Check with Other Known Values

It is widely known that -40ºC = -40ºF and not quite so widely known that 40ºC = 104ºF. Make sure your values work for these two.

Exploration: Once you get A and B, solve the Model Equation for ºF and create the formula for conversion in the other direction. It will be fun!

Thanks to both of you!