Question

The table below shows the temperature changes Monday morning in Bedford, New York over a 4-hour period after a cold front came through. If the beginning temperature at 9:00 am was -13 degrees °F at 9:00 am, what was the temperature?

a) -9 degrees °F
b) -17 degrees °F
c) -5 degrees °F
d) 5 degrees °F

Answer 1

The temperature decreases by approximately 40/9 degrees Celsius when there is a 40.0°F decrease in temperature. Any change in temperature in Fahrenheit degrees is nine-fifths the change in Celsius degrees.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks how many degrees Celsius the temperature decreases when there is a 40.0°F decrease in temperature. To convert Fahrenheit to Celsius, we use the formula: °C = (°F - 32) * 5/9. Plugging in the values, we get: °C = (40 - 32) * 5/9 = 8 * 5/9 = 40/9. Therefore, the temperature decreases by approximately 40/9 degrees Celsius when there is a 40.0°F decrease in temperature.

To show that any change in temperature in Fahrenheit degrees is nine-fifths the change in Celsius degrees, we can consider a general formula for temperature conversion: °C = (°F - 32) * 5/9. Taking the derivative of this formula with respect to °F, we get: d(°C)/d(°F) = 5/9.

Therefore, any change in temperature in Fahrenheit degrees is nine-fifths the change in Celsius degrees.