Final answer:
The correct formula for converting the maximum temperature from Celsius to Fahrenheit is F = (9/5 × MaxTemp) + 32, option (a). The Celsius scale is termed 'centigrade' due to the 100 degrees between water's freezing and boiling points. For instance, converting 88°F to Celsius results in 31.111°C, and a 40.0°F decrease results in a 22.222°C decrease.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct conversion formula to determine the Fahrenheit equivalent for the maximum temperature in Celsius is given by the equation F = (9/5 × MaxTemp) + 32. Therefore, the right option in this case is (a) 9/5×MaxTemp+32. This equation follows from the fact that a temperature difference of 1 degree Celsius is equivalent to a temperature difference of 1.8 (or 9/5) degrees Fahrenheit. The 32 is added to adjust for the difference in the zero points of the two scales, where water freezes at 0°C (32°F) and boils at 100°C (212°F).
To understand why the Celsius scale is sometimes called “centigrade”, it’s important to note that the word “centigrade” comes from Latin, meaning “hundred steps” or “degrees.” So when Anders Celsius created his temperature scale in the 18th century, he defined it with 100 degrees between the freezing and boiling points of water, thus the term centigrade.
Temperature Conversion Examples:
- Converting Fahrenheit to Celsius: The formula °C = (5/9) × (°F - 32) can be used. For example, to convert 88°F to Celsius, we subtract 32 and multiply by 5/9, which gives us °C = (5/9) × (88-32) = 31.111°C.
- Temperature decrease in Celsius: A decrease of 40°F is equivalent to a decrease of 40 × (5/9) = 22.222°C.
- Fahrenheit and Celsius same numerical value: The Fahrenheit and Celsius scales have the same numerical value at -40°.
- Fahrenheit and Kelvin same numerical value: There is no point at which the Fahrenheit and Kelvin scales have the same numerical value because Kelvin is an absolute scale with its zero point at absolute zero, which is -459.67°F.