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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2003  > December  >
Chemical Education Today
Letters
A Simplified Algorithm for Temperature Conversions
Victor G. Mossotti
U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Cover
December 2003
Vol. 80 No. 12
p. 1380
Full Text
As pointed out by Mitschele (1), the application of the
classical formulas for conversions between Celsius (C) and Fahrenheit (F) temperature scales has been a source of confusion for students and professionals alike. I am surprised that those who teach temperature conversion formulas have not introduced the easier-to-retain relationship based on the fact that –40 F° is the same temperature as –40 C°. This method derives from the symmetrical relationship between the Celsius and Fahrenheit temperature scales: (F + 40) = 9/5 (C + 40). This relationship is easily obtained from the classic relationship, F + (9/5) C + 32, by adding 40 to each side of the equation, and then factoring 9/5 on the right side. The conversion is a three-step procedure, regardless of the direction of conversion:

  1. Add 40 to the seed number, either F or C
  2. Multiply by the appropriate slope, either 9/5 or 5/9
  3. Subtract 40 from the product to obtain the final result

Literature Cited

  1. Mitschele, Jonathan. J. Chem. Educ. 2002, 79, 1235–1236.
More Information
*  Citation
 Mossotti, Victor G. J. Chem. Educ. 2003 80 1380.
*  Keywords
 General Chemistry; Introductory / High School Chemistry; Laboratory Instruction; Teaching / Learning Aids
*  History
 Created:
Last Updated:		 October 31, 2003
February 28, 2005
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