Convert Celsius to Fahrenheit easily.

Whether you're checking oven temperatures for a recipe or deciphering weather forecasts abroad, converting between Celsius and Fahrenheit is a essential life skill. Let's break down this everyday calculation so you'll never second-guess temperature readings again.

Unit definitions

What is a Celsius (°C)?

Description: The Celsius scale measures temperature where 0° represents water's freezing point and 100° its boiling point (at sea level).
Symbol: °C
Common uses: Global weather reports, scientific research (except U.S.), medical thermometers worldwide
Definition: Officially tied to the Kelvin scale through the equation °C = K − 273.15

What is a Fahrenheit (°F)?

Description: Fahrenheit uses 32° as water's freezing point and 212° as its boiling point, creating 180 divisions between those states.
Symbol: °F
Common uses: U.S. weather forecasts, older oven manuals, some industrial processes
Definition: Historically based on a brine solution's freezing point (0°F) and human body temperature (96°F), later adjused to water's phase changes.

Conversion formula

The Celsius to Fahrenheit formula might look tricky at first, but it's just two simple steps:
°F = (°C × 9/5) + 32
Multiply Celsius degrees by 1.8 (that's 9/5 in fraction form), then add 32 to account for Fahrenheit's offset starting point.

Example calculations

1. Room temperature (20°C to °F):
   20 × 1.8 = 36
   36 + 32 = 68°F
2. Baking temperature (180°C to °F):
   180 × 1.8 = 324
   324 + 32 = 356°F

Conversion tables

Common Celsius to Fahrenheit equivalents

Fahrenheit to Celsius quick reference

Historical background

The Celsius scale debuted in 1742, created by Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius. Ironically, his original design had 0° as boiling point and 100° as freezing. Fellow scientists flipped it posthumously in 1744. Daniel Fahrenheit, a German physicist, introduced his mercury thermometer scale in 1724. His choice of 32° for freezing water? It allowed 64 intervals between key temperatures (32 to 96, then 96 to 212), divisible by his measurement tools.

During World War II, the U.S. nearly switched to Celsius to align with allies. The change stalled post-war, leaving America as one of three countries still using Fahrenheit today. Cooking shows actually help keep both scales relevant, with chefs like Jamie Oliver often providing dual measurements.

Interesting facts

1. Weather wars: The 1975 Metric Conversion Act failed to U.S. fully adopt Celsius, partly due to public attachment to Fahrenheit's "finer" 1-degree increments.
2. Medical crossover: While U.S. hospitals record body temps in Fahrenheit, pharmaceutical storage guidelines use Celsius globally.
3. Space oddity: NASA uses Celsius for scientific work but converts to Fahrenheit in public communications.
4. 32 mysteries: Fahrenheit chose 32° as freezing point because it was the lowest temp he could reliably recreate using ice and salt mixtures.
5. Global hybrid: Some Canadian weather reports use both scales, listing °C first followed by °F in parentheses.

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