Converting between temperature scales

The chart below will help you quickly make rough conversions between
the Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature scales. To make more exact
conversions, use the formulas below the chart.

In the formulas below, / means to divide, * means to multiply, - means

subtract, + means to add and = is equal. Tc = temperature in degrees
Celsius, Tf = temperature in degrees Fahrenheit

To convert a Fahrenheit temperature into Celsius:

Tc = (5/9)*(Tf-32)
For example, to convert a Fahrenheit temperature of 98.6 degrees into
degrees Celsius first subtract 32 from the Fahrenheit temperature to get
66.6. Then you multiply 66.6 by five-ninths to get 37 degrees Celsius.

To convert a Celsius temperature into degrees Fahrenheit:

Tf = ((9/5)*Tc)+32
For example, to convert a Celsius temperature of 100 degrees into
degrees Fahrenheit, first multiply the Celsius temperature reading by nine-
fifths to get 180. Then add 32 to 180 and get 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Celsius temperature scale is still sometimes referred to as the

"centigrade" scale. Centigrade means "consisting of or divided into 100
degrees." The Swedish Astronomer Andres Celsius (1701-1744)
developed the centigrade scales for scientific purposes. It has 100
degrees between the freezing point (0 C) and boiling point (100 C) of pure
water at sea level air pressure. An international conference on weights
and measures voted to name the centigrade scale after its inventor in
1948.

The Kelvin and Rankine scales

Scientists use the Kelvin scale, which is based on the Celsius scale, but
has no negative numbers. Zero on the Kelvin scale is considered the be
absolute zero; that is, the point at which all molecular motion stops. To
convert a temperature reading into degrees Kelvin, simply add 273.16 to
the Celsius temperature. This explains why in scientific temperatures
you'll see references to temperatures on Earth in the 300-degree
range.The absolute zero version of the Fahrenheit scale is the Rankine
scale. Add 460 degrees to Fahrenheit temperatures to obtain the Rankine
temperature.