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One of the most common linear relationships found in everyday situations deals with
temperature. Recall that water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit and 0 degrees Celsius,
while it boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit and 100 degrees Celsius.
The equation is very familiar to most people, however the derivation of this
equation is not well known.
The ordered pairs (100,212) and (0,32) are shown in figure-1 on axes showing
Fahrenheit as a function of Celsius.
The Derivation
(100,212)-(0,32)
Slope is equal to the change in y over the change in x, or 'rise over run'.
change in y
m
change in x
The change in x is equal to the difference in x-coordinates (also called run), and the
change in y is equal to the difference in y-coordinates (also called rise).
y2 y1
m
x2 x1
Substitute in the values of x and y into the equation to find the slope.
32 212
m
0 100
Fahrenheit Celsius Equation Derivation page 2 of 6
William Greco Dec. 19, 2009
2404 Greensward N.
Warrington, Pa. 18976
w2gre@verizon.net
180
Reduce the expression by removing a factor of 20 from the numerator and
100
denominator.
9
m
5
The numerators of expressions that have equal denominators can be combined. In this
1060 9 x 100
case, and have the same denominator of 5, so the numerators can be
5 5
combined.
1060 9 x 100
5
Simplify the numerator of the expression.
1060 9x 900
5
Fahrenheit Celsius Equation Derivation page 4 of 6
William Greco Dec. 19, 2009
2404 Greensward N.
Warrington, Pa. 18976
w2gre@verizon.net
y
9x 160 and y 9x 32
5 5
Fahrenheit
9 Celsius 160 and Fahrenheit 9 Celsius 32
5 5
Re-arrangement to solve for Celsius :
y
9x 160
5
Since x is on the right-hand side of the equation, switch the sides so it is on the left-hand
side of the equation.
9x 160 y
5
Multiply each term in the equation by 5.
9x 160 5 y 5
5
Simplify the left-hand side of the equation by canceling the common factors.
9x 160 y 5
Multiply y by 5 to get 5y.
9x 160 5y
Since 160 does not contain the variable to solve for, move it to the right-hand side of the
equation by subtracting 160 from both sides.
9x 160 5y
Move all terms not containing x to the right-hand side of the equation.
9x 5y 160
Divide each term in the equation by 9.
9x 5y 160
9 9 9
Simplify the left-hand side of the equation by canceling the common factors.
9 x 5y 160 5y 160
x
9 9 9 9 9
Fahrenheit Celsius Equation Derivation page 6 of 6
William Greco Dec. 22, 2009
2404 Greensward N.
Warrington, Pa. 18976
w2gre@verizon.net
5y 160
x
9 9
Combine the numerators of all expressions that have common denominators.
5y 160
9
Factor out the GCF of 5 from each term in the polynomial.
5y 5 32
9
Factor out the GCF of 5 from 5y-160.
5 y 32
9
5 y 32
x
9
5 Fahrenheit 32
Celsius
9