Converting between Fahrenheit and Celsius
The formulas are given, so nothing is memorised. What the question tests is whether you pick the right one and handle a negative value without losing a sign.
Every step of Converting between Fahrenheit and Celsius explained on video. Pause anywhere; the embed scrolls independently of the page.
ALEKS randomizes the numbers each attempt, but the question shape stays the same. Here are three example versions you might see.
A watch reads −3.8 °F.
What is this in degrees Celsius? Round to the nearest tenth.
A forecast gives −15 °C.
What is this in degrees Fahrenheit?
A thermometer reads 14 °F.
What is this in degrees Celsius?
While hiking, a friend asks for the temperature. A precision sports watch reads −4.2 °F.
What is this temperature in degrees Celsius?
Formulas:
C = (5/9)(F − 32)
F = (9/5)C + 32
Use the given formulas as necessary, and round your answer to the nearest tenth of a degree.
Which formula?
Inside the bracket
Times five ninths
A sanity check you already know
Water freezes at 32 °F and 0 °C. Our reading is well below freezing in Fahrenheit, so the Celsius answer must be below zero too.
That single anchor catches every sign error on this question. If a sub-freezing Fahrenheit temperature came out positive in Celsius, something went wrong in the bracket — almost always subtracting in the wrong order.