Answers provided by Ms White’s Yr 7 Maths class, Lyneham High School, Canberra, Australia. Transcribed by G. Meyers.
1. Is there a temperature at which Celsius and Fahenheit readings are the same?
Yes. As 1ºC = 1.8ºF + 32, the Celsius degrees will never catch up to the Fahrenheit degrees. Therefore, a number where the Celsius and Fahrenheit are the same will be in the negatives. We noticed that every time you go down 5 degrees in the Celsius scale, you go down 9 degrees in the Fahrenheit scale.
-5ºC = 32 – 9 = 23ºF
-10ºC = 23 – 9 = 14
-15ºC = 14 – 9 = 5ºF
-20ºC = 5ºF – 9 = -4ºF
-25ºC = -4ºF – 9 = -13ºF
-30ºC = -13ºF – 9 = -22ºF
-35ºC = -22ºF – 9 = -31 ºF
-40ºC = -31ºF – 9 = -40ºF
-40ºC = -40ºF
2. Can you describe a way of converting Fahrenheit readings into Celsius?
You can reverse the equation below and say (ºF – 32) ÷ 1.8 = ºC
3. Can you describe a way of converting Celsius readings into Fahrenheit?
We know 0 degrees Celsius = 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
And an interval of 1 degree Celsius = 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit.
So, for example, if you want 5 degrees Celsius, you have to times 1.8 by 5 and then add 32.
(NºC x 1.8) + 32 = ºF
where N is the number of degrees Celsius.
4. Is there a temperature at which the Fahrenheit reading is 20 degrees higher than the Celsius reading?
(NºC x 1.8) + 32 = ºF and F = C + 20
(C x 1.8) + 32 = Cº + 20
32 + 0.8 C = 20
8 C = -12
C = -120/5
C = -15
F = 5
5. Is there a temperature at which the Celsius reading is 20 degrees higher than the Fahrenheit reading?
6. Extension challenge : Kelvin scale
We also found that 0ºK = -273ºC and 0ºK = -459ºF