98F is how many celcius?in body temperature?

Question

98F is how many celcius?in body temperature?

Answer 1

Spiffer1 is remembering that 98.6 F = 37 C, which is correct.

Instead of remembering the conversions with the 32 in them, though, you can use an easier-to-remember set of formulas which look alike.

The whole conversion process is based upon knowing that the temps are linear functions (so that so many deg. C = some other number of deg. F all the time) and choosing some point as a fixed point to measure from.

The def'n of centrigrade/Celcius is that there are 100 degrees (centi-grade!) between the point where water freezes and where it boils; 0 C = freezing point, 100 C = boiling point.

On the Fahrenheit scale, these are at 32 F and 212 F, respectively (odd, huh?), so that there are (212 - 32) F = 180 F between these two phase changes of water.

So  180 F deg = 100 C deg

          18 F deg = 10 C deg

            9 F deg = 5 C deg  

This is the origin of the cryptic "5/9" or "9/5" that you see in the conversion formulae; to keep it straight, remember that there are more F degrees in a given interval than C degrees; so when you convert to F, you have to use 9/5 (> 1), and if you have to convert to C, you have to use 5/9 (< 1).

The real problem is where to use as the starting point...typically, the freezing point of water is used, which leads to the very asymmetric equations:

  F = 9/5 C + 32

  C = 5/9 (F - 32)

You can solve either of these--by setting both C and F to 'x'--for the temp at which the numerical value is the same on both scales; the answer (you should verify it!) is -40...

so -40 F = -40 C.

If you know calculus, you can generate the equations any time you want; the base info is

   dF/dC = 180/100 = 9/5

so (int) dF = 9/5 (int) dC

If we start from -40 on both, and integrate to 'F' (the desired temp on the Fahrenheit scale) and 'C' (that on the Celsius scale), respectively, we have

(int) [-40, F] dF = F|(-40, F) = F + 40

and similarly for the int. in C, so that

F + 40 = 9/5 (C + 40)

or

F = 9/5 (C + 40) - 40

and

C = 5/9 (F + 40) - 40

And clearly, if either F or C is -40, the other is also -40, so it checks out.

The problem as given is to convert 98 F (even) to C; if you do the math indicated, you'll find that 98 F = 36.7 C...but 98.6 F, which is the accepted standard body temp, is exactly 37 C...so probably the measurements were done in C. ;-)

Answer 2

37

Answer 3

98.6F to be more precise (although some use 98.4F)  The celsius equivalent is 37 C.