Mr Celsius and Mr Fahrenheit

We hopped from mid-40s in DC to mid-80s in Arizona, and back to 40s in Portland. By this I mean degrees Fahrenheit.

Background information. Fahrenheit: temperature scale where water freezes 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees. Celsius: temperature scale where water freezes at 0 degrees and boils at 100 degrees.

How do you convert Fahrenheit to Celsius? It's easy. First, you deduce 32. Second, you devide the result by 2. For example, today is 42°F, with occasional sprinkles. (It doesn't rain in Oregon, it sprinkles!) So, 42-32=10, 10:2=5. Don't deduce or divide sprinkles. If you have a head for math, add 1/10 to the result: 5+0.5=5.5, but if you are arithmetically challenged, don't bother! Now, Oregonian Sunday promised 46°F for tomorrow. How much would that be according to Celsius?

Background information. The Fahrenheit scale coincides with the Celsius scale at −40 °F, which is the same temperature as −40 °C.

Vera from Yakutsk told me a few things about their climate. This winter, she says, has been warm - it never got colder than -40 or -42°C. Children go to school at any weather, but they just cover their faces up to the eyes. Also, they have lots of snow. If one day they become a host city for the Winter Olympic Games, our national team may have a good chance to win lots of medals!

Background information. Mr Fahrenheit chose zero to be the temperature of the coldest material he could reproduce in his 18th century laboratory. This was ice melting in water saturated with common salt. His third point, the 96th degree, was the level of the liquid in the thermometer when held in the mouth or under the armpit. According to www.calculatenow.biz/conversions/temperature.html , he "chose 96 as the temperature of his wife's armpit. Who else's armpit is that famous?" A bright question. Think whatever you want, but be careful next time when somebody approaches you with a thermometer in his hand and a grin on his face. Your armpit may become famous one day!