Basic Mathematics for College Students

5.5 Converting between American and Metric Units 475

Self Check 6

COFFEE Hot coffee is 110F.

Express this temperature in

degrees Celsius. Round to the

nearest tenth of a degree.

Now TryProblem 33

Self Check 7

FEVERS To determine whether a

baby has a fever, her mother

takes her temperature with a

Celsius thermometer. If the

reading is 38.8C, does the baby

have a fever? (Hint:Normal

body temperature is 98.6F. )

Now TryProblem 37

EXAMPLE (^6) Bathing Warm bath water is 90F. Express this
temperature in degrees Celsius. Round to the nearest tenth of a degree.
StrategyWe will substitute 90 for Fin the formula.
WHYThen we can use the rule for the order of operations to evaluate the right
side of the equation and find the value ofC, the temperature in degrees Celsius of
the bath water.
Solution
This is the formula to find degrees Celsius.
Substitute 90 for F.
Write 58 as a fraction: 58 .
32.222... Do the division.
32.2 Round to the nearest tenth.
To the nearest tenth of a degree, the temperature of the bath water is 32.2C.
Multiply the numerators.
 (^) Multiply the denominators.

290

9

58

 1

5

9

a

58

1

b

Do the subtraction within the

 (^) parentheses first: 90  32 58.

5

9

1582



5

9

190  322

C

5

9

1 F 322

C^59 (F32)

EXAMPLE (^7) Dishwashers A dishwasher manufacturer recommends
that dishes be rinsed in hot water with a temperature of 60C. Express this
temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.
StrategyWe will substitute 60 for Cin the formula.
WHYThen we can use the rule for the order of operations to evaluate the right
side of the equation and find the value ofF, the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit
of the water.
Solution
This is the formula to find degrees Fahrenheit.
Substitute 60 for C.
Multiply:.
Do the division.
Do the addition.
The manufacturer recommends that dishes be rinsed in 140F water.

 140

 108  32

9

5 (^60 )

9

51

60

12 

540

 (^5)

540

5

 32



9

5

1602  32

F

9

5

C 32

F^95 C 32

32.22

9 290.00

 27

20

 18

20

 18

20

 18

2

108

5  540

 5

4

 0

40

 40

0

60

 9

540

1.30 in. 2.the 550-yard race 3.30, 845 g 4.the person who weighs 76 kg

5.0.4 qt 6.43.3°C 7.yes

ANSWERS TO SELF CHECKS

5

4

8

 5

290