Question

When traveling abroad, many of the units used are different, one of the most common is the unit of temperature, namely Fahrenheit versus Celsius. The conversion between the two temperatures is as follows: C = 5/9(F-32).

Answer 1

To convert Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 and then divide by 1.8. For 88°F, this results in 31.11°C. Celsius is called 'centigrade' due to the 100 steps between the freezing and boiling points of water.

Step-by-step explanation:

To convert a temperature in degrees Fahrenheit to Celsius, the formula C = 5/9(F-32) is used. On a warm day where the temperature is 88°F, you would subtract 32 from 88 to get 56, and then multiply by 5/9 (or divide by 1.8) to reach the correct Celsius value. So, the Celsius temperature conversion would be calculated as follows: C = 5/9(88-32), which equals 5/9(56), and therefore the Celsius temperature is 31.11°C.

As for why the Celsius scale is sometimes called “centigrade,” it's because the term 'centigrade' comes from the Latin 'centum' meaning 100 and 'gradus' meaning steps. The Celsius scale is divided into 100 steps between the freezing point and boiling point of water, thus the name 'centigrade' which is often used interchangeably with Celsius.