“Normal human body temperature in feherenheit is 98.4 °F. What is the body temperature in °C?”
The correct answer and explanation is:
Okay, let’s convert the temperature.
The Correct Answer:
The body temperature of 98.4 °F is equivalent to 36.9 °C.
Explanation:
Temperature can be measured using different scales, the most common being Fahrenheit (°F), primarily used in the United States, and Celsius (°C), used by most of the rest of the world and in scientific contexts. To convert a temperature reading from one scale to another, we use specific mathematical formulas.
The formula to convert a temperature from Fahrenheit (°F) to Celsius (°C) is:
°C = (°F – 32) * 5/9
This formula accounts for two main differences between the scales:
- The zero point: The freezing point of water is 0°C but 32°F. Subtracting 32 from the Fahrenheit temperature adjusts for this difference in the starting point.
- The degree size: A change of 1°C is equivalent to a change of 1.8°F (because 180°F separate the freezing and boiling points of water, while only 100°C separate them; 180/100 = 1.8). Multiplying by 5/9 (which is the reciprocal of 9/5 or 1.8) scales the difference relative to the Celsius degree size.
Now, let’s apply this formula using the given normal human body temperature of 98.4 °F:
- First, subtract 32 from the Fahrenheit temperature:
98.4 – 32 = 66.4 - Next, multiply the result (66.4) by 5/9:
°C = 66.4 * (5/9)
°C = 332 / 9
°C ≈ 36.888…
Rounding this value to one decimal place, which is commonly done for body temperature readings, gives us 36.9 °C.
Therefore, a normal human body temperature of 98.4 °F translates to approximately 36.9 °C. This falls within the commonly accepted range for normal human body temperature when measured in Celsius, which is often cited around 37.0 °C (equivalent to 98.6 °F) but can range slightly higher or lower depending on various factors.