Final answer:
A decrease of 40.0 Fahrenheit degrees is approximately equivalent to a decrease of 22.2 Celsius degrees, confirming that the change in temperature on the Fahrenheit scale is nine-fifths that on the Celsius scale.
Step-by-step explanation:
Given that the temperature drops by 40.0 Fahrenheit degrees due to a cold front, we want to find out how many degrees Celsius this temperature decrease corresponds to. To convert a change in temperature from Fahrenheit to Celsius, we can use the formula Δ°C = (Δ°F - 32) × (5/9), where Δ°F is the change in degrees Fahrenheit and Δ°C is the change in degrees Celsius.
However, since we are dealing with a change in temperature and not an absolute temperature value, the more appropriate conversion for this case is simply Δ°C = Δ°F × (5/9). So for a decrease of 40.0°F, the calculation would be:
40.0°F × (5/9) ≈ 22.2°C
Therefore, a decrease of 40.0 Fahrenheit degrees is approximately equivalent to a decrease of 22.2 Celsius degrees. This demonstrates that any change in temperature in Fahrenheit degrees is indeed nine-fifths the change in Celsius degrees, reinforcing the relationship between these two temperature scales.