A temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit is equal to what in Celsius? Recall F = (9/5)C + 32

The correct answer and explanation is:

To convert 38 degrees Fahrenheit to Celsius, we use the formula: F=95C+32F = \frac{9}{5}C + 32

We are given F=38F = 38, and we need to solve for CC. Rearranging the formula to isolate CC: C=59(F−32)C = \frac{5}{9}(F – 32)

Substitute 38 for FF: C=59(38−32)=59(6)=309=3.3‾C = \frac{5}{9}(38 – 32) = \frac{5}{9}(6) = \frac{30}{9} = 3.\overline{3}

So, 38°F is approximately 3.33°C (or exactly 103\frac{10}{3}°C).


Explanation (Approximately 300 words):

The Fahrenheit and Celsius scales are two ways to measure temperature. While Fahrenheit is commonly used in the United States, Celsius is the standard unit of temperature in most other countries and in science. To convert between them, a mathematical relationship is used.

The formula F=95C+32F = \frac{9}{5}C + 32 shows how Fahrenheit temperatures relate to Celsius. The “32” in the equation represents the freezing point of water in Fahrenheit (32°F), which corresponds to 0°C in Celsius. The fraction 95\frac{9}{5} represents the different sizes of degrees on the two scales. Each Celsius degree represents a larger change in temperature than a Fahrenheit degree, which is why we multiply or divide by that ratio.

In this problem, we’re given a Fahrenheit temperature and asked to convert it to Celsius. To do this, we rearranged the formula to isolate CC by subtracting 32 from the Fahrenheit value and then multiplying the result by 59\frac{5}{9}. This reversal correctly undoes the conversion steps.

When we plugged in 38 for Fahrenheit, we got 59(6)\frac{5}{9}(6), which simplifies to about 3.33°C. This temperature is just slightly above freezing, which is important for contexts like weather forecasting or food safety.

Understanding how to convert between Fahrenheit and Celsius is not only useful for travel and international communication, but also important for interpreting data in scientific contexts.

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