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Conversions

Category:	Science
Submitted By:	Mogmatt16
Fun:	(2.39)
Difficulty:	(1.43)

When you convert from an English measurement to a Metric measurement, you multiply by a number. For example, to find out how many kilograms are in 10 pounds, you multiply 10 by .454. To find out how many meters are in 10 yards, you multiply 10 by .914. This is the procedure for every conversion except for one. When you convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius, you subtract 32 and multiply by 1/9.

Why does the temperature conversion require a subtraction and a multiplication, while all the other conversions require just a multiplication?

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Comments on this teaser


Posted by unklemyke	10/11/10
Well, actually, you subtract because Celsius sets the freezing point of water as 0Âº and Fahrenheit sets it at 32Âº. likewise, the boiling point of water is 100Âº C, 212Âº F. :) The 180 point difference in F as opposed to the 100 point difference in C yeilds the constant - and it's 5/9 from F to C, not 1/9. Conversely, you multiply by 9/5 going form C to F. :roll:

Posted by Nerine	01/06/11
Huh, it's quite obvious when you knoew the answer :D

Posted by AndrewWalker	01/31/12
I didn't get the exact answer, but I do know, if you graph the resulting conversions as linear functions, each line has a unique slope. This means there is a non-linear relationship between the two conversions. Also the two lines intersect at the point (-40,-40) so -40 degrees F= -40 degrees C