Why minus 40 degree is numerically same in both Fahrenheit and Celsius I proved it graphically but still I want to know with curiosity why they are equal numerically? ๐ค
You're absolutely right about -40° being the only temperature numerically equal on both the Celsius (°C) and Fahrenheit (°F) scales. While you can prove it graphically, there's also a specific reason behind this unique point of intersection.
Here's the explanation:
**1. Defining the Scales:**
As mentioned earlier, the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales use different reference points for freezing and boiling points of water:
* **Celsius:** 0°C for freezing and 100°C for boiling.
* **Fahrenheit:** 32°F for freezing and 212°F for boiling.
**2. Understanding the Conversion Formula:**
The conversion formula between Celsius and Fahrenheit is:
```
°C = (5/9) * (°F - 32)
°F = (9/5) * °C + 32
```
**3. Finding the Intersection Point:**
We're looking for the temperature where °C and °F become equal, so we can set them equal to each other:
```
°C = °F
```
Substituting the conversion formulas for each scale, we get:
```
(5/9) * (°F - 32) = (9/5) * °C + 32
```
**4. Solving for the Intersection:**
This equation becomes:
```
5°F - 160 = 9°C + 32
```
Combining like terms:
```
5°F = 9°C + 192
```
Now, we need to find the value for °C and °F that makes this equation true. We can see that if we subtract 192 from both sides:
```
5°F - 192 = 9°C + 192 - 192
```
This simplifies to:
```
5°F - 192 = 9°C
```
Looking closely, we notice that the coefficient of °C is 9, and on the other side, the difference between 192 and 160 is also 32. This is no coincidence!
**5. The Intersection Point Revealed:**
If we divide both sides by 9, we get:
```
(5/9) * (°F - 192) = °C
```
Substituting back the value of (5/9) from the initial conversion formula:
```
°C = °F - 192
```
Now, to make this equation true, we need to find a value for °F that is exactly 192 more than its corresponding °C value.
**The key point to understand is that the conversion formula itself creates this unique intersection point.** The specific ratio of 5:9 in the conversion formula, combined with the reference point differences (32°F and 0°C), results in this specific temperature (-40°) where both scales have the same numerical value.
Therefore, -40° is not a special temperature with inherent equivalence in both scales; it's a result of the chosen reference points and the specific conversion formula used.
I hope this explanation satisfies your curiosity and goes beyond the graphical proof to offer a deeper understanding of the reasoning behind this unique point of intersection.
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