CONVERTING FAHRENHEIT TO CELCIUS - The temperature conversion is easy to do: Take the °F temperature and subtract 32. Multiply this number by 5. Divide this number by 9 to obtain your answer in °C. When doing the temperature conversions, one quick way to make certain you did the conversion right is to remember Fahrenheit temperatures are higher than the corresponding Celsius scale until you get down to -40°, which is where the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales meet.

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How to Convert Fahrenheit to Celcius

by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. 

Here is how to convert °F to °C.

This is actually Fahrenheit to Celsius and not Fahrenheit to Celcius, though the mis-spellings of the temperature scales are common.

So are the temperature scales, which are used to measure room temperature, body temperature, set thermostats, and take scientific measurements. 

Temperature Conversion Formula

The temperature conversion is easy to do:

1.    Take the °F temperature and subtract 32.

2.    Multiply this number by 5.

3.    Divide this number by 9 to obtain your answer in °C.

The formula to convert °F to °C is:

T_(°C) = (T_(°F) - 32) × 5/9

which is

T_(°C) = (T_(°F) - 32) / 1.8

°F to °C Example Problem

For example, convert 68 degrees Fahrenheit into degrees Celsius:

T_(°C) = (68°F - 32) × 5/9

T(°C) = 20 °C

It's also easy to do the conversion the other way, from °C to °F. Here, the formula is:

T_(°F) = T_(°C) × 9/5 + 32

T_(°F) = T_(°C) × 1.8 + 32

For example, to convert 20 degrees Celsius to the Fahrenheit scale:

T_(°F) = 20°C × 9/5 + 32

T(°F) = 68 °F

When doing the temperature conversions, one quick way to make certain you did the conversion right is to remember Fahrenheit temperatures are higher than the corresponding Celsius scale until you get down to -40°, which is where the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales meet.

Below this temperature, degrees Fahrenheit are lower than degrees Celsius. 

Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville - Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Science educator with experience teaching chemistry, biology, astronomy, and physics at the high school, college, and graduate levels.

ThoughtCo and About Education chemistry expert since 2001.

Widely-published graphic artist, responsible for printable periodic tables and other illustrations used in science.

Experience

Anne Helmenstine, Ph.D. has covered chemistry for ThoughtCo and About Education since 2001, and other sciences since 2013. She taught chemistry, biology, astronomy, and physics at the high school, college, and graduate levels. She has worked as a research scientist and also abstracting and indexing diverse scientific literature for the Department of Energy.

In addition to her work as a science writer, Dr. Helmenstine currently serves as a scientific consultant, specializing in problems requiring an interdisciplinary approach. Previously, she worked as a research scientist and college professor. 

Education

Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and a B.A. in physics and mathematics with a minor in chemistry from Hastings College. In her doctoral work, Dr. Helmenstine developed ultra-sensitive chemical detection and medical diagnostic tests.

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https://www.thoughtco.com/convert-farenheit-to-celcius-609232