Final answer:
The temperature of -38.6°C is colder than -38.6°F because -38.6°C is below -40°C, where the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales coincide.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine which temperature is colder between -38.6°C and -38.6°F, it's important to understand the relationship between the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales. The freezing point of water on the Fahrenheit scale is 32°F, while it's 0°C on the Celsius scale. To compare temperatures, we can use the conversion formula between scales or recognize that the scales coincide at -40°, where -40°C is equal to -40°F.
Given this information, we know that -38.6°C is actually closer to 0°C (the freezing point of water) than -38.6°F is to 32°F (water's freezing point in Fahrenheit). Therefore, -38.6°C is colder than -38.6°F because it is below -40°C, the point where the scales coincide and indicate the same temperature.