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Converting between the different temperature scales

The graphic above shows how temperatures on the Fahrenheit scale relates to the Celsius scale. If you want a more exact conversion, use the following formula:

(In the formulas below, / means to divide, * means to multiply, - means subtract, + means to add and = is equal.)

Tc = (5/9)*(Tf-32); Tc = temperature in degrees Celsius, Tf = temperature in degrees Fahrenheit

For example, suppose you have a Fahrenheit temperature of 98.6 degrees and you wanted to convert it into degrees Celsius. Using the above formula, you would first subtract 32 from the Fahrenheit temperature and get 66.6. Then you multiply 66.6 by five-ninths and get 37 degrees Celsius.

The formula to convert a Celsius temperature into degrees Fahrenheit is:

Tf = (9/5)*Tc+32; Tc = temperature in degrees Celsius, Tf = temperature in degrees Fahrenheit

For example, suppose you have a Celsius temperature of 100 degrees and you want to convert it into degrees Fahrenheit. Using the above formula, you first multiply the Celsius temperature reading by nine-fifths and get 180. Then you add 32 to 180 and get 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

Another method that works just as well and might be easier to remember is the following: Regardless of which direction you want to covert, Fahrenheit to Celsius or Celsius to Fahrenheit, always first add 40 to the number. Next, multiply by 5/9 or 9/5 just like the old method. Then, always subtract out the 40 you just added.

This works because, as you can see in the graphic above, -40 Fahrenheit = -40 Celsius.

To remember whether to use 5/9 or 9/5 when converting from Fahrenheit to Celsius or Celsius to Fahrenheit, just simply remember, F (for Fahrenheit) also can stand for Fraction. 5/9 is always a Fraction; 9/5, while also a fraction in this form, is Clearly a whole number plus a fraction (1 and 4/5). So, if you want to convert Fahrenheit (F) to Celsius (C), then use the Fraction 5/9; Celsius (C) to Fahrenheit (F), use the other, 9/5, which is Clearly not just a fraction.

For an example, we'll use the values above: 98.6 F and 37 C, which are equal.

To convert from F to C: 98.6 + 40 = 138.6, and 138.6 * 5/9 = 77. Lastly, 77 - 40 = 37

To convert from C to F: 37 + 40 = 77, and 77 * 9/5 = 138.6. Finally, 138.6 - 40 = 98.6

So remember: Add 40, (F to C) multiply by Fraction...(C to F) multiply by the other, subtract 40.

The El Paso, Texas, National Weather Service Office has a weather calculator posted on the World Wide Web. With it you can perform such calculations as converting temperatures from Fahrenheit to Celsius or the other way around, as well as doing other kinds of conversions.

Of note: The Celsius tempertature scale is still sometimes referred to as the "centigrade" scale. Centigrade means "consisting of or divided into 100 degrees;" the Celsius scale, devised by Swedish Astronomer Andres Celsius (1701-1744) for scientific purposes, has 100 degrees between the freezing point (0 C) and boiling point (100 C) of pure water at sea level air pressure. The term Celsius was adopted in 1948 by an international conference on weights and measures.

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