Introduction: Convert Centigrade to Fahrenheit Mentally
My first Instructable.
While on holiday in the Canary Islands we were kept informed of the time and temperature by a number of public digital displays. Naturally the temperature was in Centigrade. Fine, except that in spite of the UK going metric, atmospheric temperatures do not mean much to me unless they are in Fahrenheit (it is an age thing, you know!) so I got to thinking how best to convert them. The following was my train of thought.
The formula is, of course :
F = (9/5)C + 32
The problem is the fraction 9/5 until I realised that with a little elementary algebra, this could be transformed into a much simpler form.
Consider
9/5 = 18/10 = (20-2)/10 = 2 + 0.2
Wow ... Eureka!
While on holiday in the Canary Islands we were kept informed of the time and temperature by a number of public digital displays. Naturally the temperature was in Centigrade. Fine, except that in spite of the UK going metric, atmospheric temperatures do not mean much to me unless they are in Fahrenheit (it is an age thing, you know!) so I got to thinking how best to convert them. The following was my train of thought.
The formula is, of course :
F = (9/5)C + 32
The problem is the fraction 9/5 until I realised that with a little elementary algebra, this could be transformed into a much simpler form.
Consider
9/5 = 18/10 = (20-2)/10 = 2 + 0.2
Wow ... Eureka!
Step 1: Examples
So, in order to convert degrees Centigrade to Fahrenheit we have now a new formula:
F = (2C + 0.2C) + 32
... and that we can do in our head! We merely multiply the centigrade number by 2, subtract a tenth of that, and add 32.
Let's try some examples.
Firstly, something that we all know. 100C = 212F
100 x 2 = 200
1/10 = 20 (move the decimal point)
Subtract = 180
+32 = 212F
Let's try another one, 60C
60 x 2 = 120
1/10 = 12 (move the decimal point)
Subtract = 108
+32 = 140F
Or 25C
25 x 2 = 50
1/10 = 5
Subtract = 45
+32 = 77 (see below)
F = (2C + 0.2C) + 32
... and that we can do in our head! We merely multiply the centigrade number by 2, subtract a tenth of that, and add 32.
Let's try some examples.
Firstly, something that we all know. 100C = 212F
100 x 2 = 200
1/10 = 20 (move the decimal point)
Subtract = 180
+32 = 212F
Let's try another one, 60C
60 x 2 = 120
1/10 = 12 (move the decimal point)
Subtract = 108
+32 = 140F
Or 25C
25 x 2 = 50
1/10 = 5
Subtract = 45
+32 = 77 (see below)
Step 2: Finally
If you are only interested in an answer to the nearest degree then it is OK to round the tenth part to the nearest degree if it is not a whole number, to ease the mental strain.
i.e. 19C
19 x 2 = 38
1/10 = 4 (rounding 3.8)
Subtract = 34
+32 = 66F (instead of 66.2F)
Now it is your turn. Try 30C, 62C and 1,000C.
Easy, isn't it?
You can always check by entering "XXX Centigrade in Fahrenheit" into Google.
If only it was that easy the other way round.
If you have a mental method for converting degrees F to degrees C then let's hear it.
i.e. 19C
19 x 2 = 38
1/10 = 4 (rounding 3.8)
Subtract = 34
+32 = 66F (instead of 66.2F)
Now it is your turn. Try 30C, 62C and 1,000C.
Easy, isn't it?
You can always check by entering "XXX Centigrade in Fahrenheit" into Google.
If only it was that easy the other way round.
If you have a mental method for converting degrees F to degrees C then let's hear it.